Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
October 28 Wednesday, October 28, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 28 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
1516
War 510 years ago
Second Ottoman-Mamluk War: Mamluks fail to stop the Ottoman advance towards Egypt at the Battle of Yaunis Khan.
The Mamluks are defeated by the Ottomans at the Battle of Yaunis Khan, failing to halt their advance towards Egypt.
History
What happened on October 28
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 97Roman history
Roman emperor Nerva is forced by the Praetorian Guard to adopt general Marcus Ulpius Trajanus as his heir and successor.
Nerva adopts General Trajan as his heir and successor after pressure from the Praetorian Guard.
- 306Roman history
Maxentius is proclaimed Roman emperor.
Maxentius is declared Roman emperor in a move that divides the empire and sets the stage for conflict with Constantine.
- 312Roman history
Constantine I defeats Maxentius, becoming the sole Roman emperor in the West.
Constantine I defeats Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, securing his rule as the sole emperor in the Western Roman Empire.
- 969European history
The Byzantine Empire recovers Antioch from Arab rule.
The Byzantine Empire regains control of Antioch, ending nearly a century of Arab dominance.
- 1344European history
The lower town of Smyrna is captured by Latin Christians in response to Aydınid piracy during the Smyrniote crusades.
Latin Christians capture the lower town of Smyrna in response to Aydınid pirate activities.
- 1420Chinese history
Beijing is officially designated the capital of the Ming dynasty when the Forbidden City is completed.
The Forbidden City's completion marks Beijing as the official capital of the Ming dynasty.
- 1453Royalty
Ladislaus the Posthumous is crowned king of Bohemia in Prague.
Ladislaus the Posthumous is crowned king of Bohemia in Prague.
- 1516War
Second Ottoman-Mamluk War: Mamluks fail to stop the Ottoman advance towards Egypt at the Battle of Yaunis Khan.
The Mamluks are defeated by the Ottomans at the Battle of Yaunis Khan, failing to halt their advance towards Egypt.
- 1531War
Abyssinian-Adal war: The Adal Sultanate seizes southern Ethiopia.
The Adal Sultanate conquers southern Ethiopia, shifting regional power during the Abyssinian, Adal war.
- 1628European history
French Wars of Religion: The Siege of La Rochelle ends with the surrender of the Huguenots after fourteen months.
The Huguenots surrender at the end of the Siege of La Rochelle, concluding a fourteen-month conflict.
- 1636US history
The Massachusetts Bay Colony votes to establish a theological college, which would later become Harvard University.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony votes to establish a college that would later become Harvard University.
- 1776War
American Revolutionary War: British troops attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Continental Army.
British troops attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Continental Army during the Battle of White Plains.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 28
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 67
James Keelaghan
Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
James Keelaghan, a Canadian folk singer-songwriter known for socially conscious lyrics exploring themes of justice and historical events, turns 66 today.
Born
1959
Turns 67
today
Peter Tordenskjold
Norwegian admiral
1690 – 1720
Billy Wedlock
English footballer
1880 – 1965
Lenny Wilkens
American basketball player and coach
1937 – 2025
Jimmy McRae
Scottish race car driver
b. 1943 · 83
Bill Gates
American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Microsoft
b. 1955 · 71
Gwendoline Christie
English actress
b. 1978 · 48
Music
The number one songs on October 28
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 28, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport October 28, 2023
The 2023 Rugby World Cup final is held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. It saw South Africa defeat New Zealand 12 to 11, claiming their fourth Webb Ellis Cup, becoming the first nation to do so.
South Africa defeats New Zealand 12 to 11 in the Rugby World Cup final, winning their fourth title and becoming the first nation to achieve this feat.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 28, 2009
NASA successfully launches the Ares I-X mission, the only rocket launch for its short-lived Constellation program.
NASA launches the Ares I-X, the sole flight of its Constellation program.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Day of the Establishment of an Independent Czecho-Slovak State, celebrates the independence of Czechoslovakia from Austria-Hungary in 1918. (Czech Republic and Slovakia)
International
Public holidays in the Czech Republic are defined by Act No
International Animation Day (ASIFA)
International
International Animation Day (IAD) is an international observance on October 28 that was proclaimed in 2002 by the ASIFA as the main global event to celebrate the art of animation
Ohi Day (Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities), a national day in Greece.
International
Ohi Day is celebrated throughout Greece, Cyprus and the Greek communities around the world on 28 October each year
Prefectural Earthquake Disaster Prevention Day (Gifu Prefecture)
International
The 1891 Mino-Owari earthquake struck the Japanese provinces of Mino and Owari in the Nōbi Plain in the early morning of October 28 with a surface-wave magnitude of 8
Youth Pledge Day or Hari Sumpah Pemuda (Indonesia)
International
The following table indicates declared Indonesian government national holidays
Anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis, celebrating the liberation from Nazi German troops of the territory of current Ukraine
International
The Liberation Day of Ukraine, officially the Day of Liberation of Ukraine from Fascist Invaders, is a holiday celebrated annually on 28 October in Ukraine