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 5 Monday, October 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 5 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
8
Holidays
869
Religion 1157 years ago
The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to depose patriarch Photios I.
The Fourth Council of Constantinople convenes to depose Patriarch Photios I, resolving a bitter schism between Rome and Constantinople.
History
What happened on October 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 610European history
Heraclius arrives at Constantinople, kills Byzantine Emperor Phocas, and becomes emperor.
Heraclius arrives in Constantinople, kills Emperor Phocas, and assumes the throne.
- 816Royalty
King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope.
King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope.
- 869Religion
The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to depose patriarch Photios I.
The Fourth Council of Constantinople convenes to depose Patriarch Photios I, resolving a bitter schism between Rome and Constantinople.
- 1143European history
With the signing of the Treaty of Zamora, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognises Portugal as a Kingdom.
King Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognizes Portugal's independence with the signing of the Treaty of Zamora.
- 1450Religion
Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria expels Jews from his jurisdiction.
Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria orders the expulsion of Jews from his territories in Bavaria-Landshut.
- 1607European history
Assassins attempt to kill Venetian statesman and scientist Paolo Sarpi.
Paolo Sarpi narrowly escapes assassination by unidentified attackers.
- 1789World history
French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles effectively terminates royal authority.
Women march on Versailles, demanding bread and the king's intervention, leading to the royal family's transfer to Paris.
- 1813War
War of 1812: The Army of the Northwest defeats a British and Native Canadian force threatening Detroit.
General William Henry Harrison leads the Army of the Northwest to victory against British and Native Canadian forces, lifting the siege on Detroit.
- 1877US history
The Nez Perce War in the northwestern United States comes to an end.
The Nez Perce War ends with Chief Joseph's surrender near the Canadian border.
- 1962Popculture
The first Beatles single "Love Me Do" is released in Britain.
The Beatles release their debut single "Love Me Do," marking the beginning of their musical revolution.
- 1966Technology
A reactor at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station near Detroit suffers a partial meltdown.
A nuclear reactor at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station near Detroit experiences a partial meltdown, marking one of America's first serious commercial reactor accidents.
- 2011War
In the Mekong River massacre, two Chinese cargo boats are hijacked and 13 crew members murdered.
Two Chinese cargo boat crews totaling 13 members are killed in a violent attack on the Mekong River.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 5
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 60
Sean M. Carroll
American physicist, cosmologist, and academic
Sean Michael Carroll, American theoretical physicist specializing in quantum mechanics and cosmology, now the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, turns 59 today.
Born
1966
Turns 60
today
Louis II of Anjou
1377 – 1417
Bill Willis
American football player and coach
1921 – 2007
Willi Unsoeld
American mountaineer and educator
1926 – 1979
Bernie Mac
American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter
1957 – 2008
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American astrophysicist, cosmologist, and author
b. 1958 · 68
Brandan Wright
American basketball player
b. 1987 · 39
Music
The number one songs on October 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 5, 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 5, 1921
The World Series is the first to be broadcast on radio.[citation needed]
The World Series becomes the first baseball championship to be broadcast on radio.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 5, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
World Space Week (October 4-10)
International
World Space Week (WSW) is an annual holiday observed from October 4 to 10 in over 95 nations throughout the world
Armed Forces Day (Indonesia)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Constitution Day (Vanuatu)
International
The Constitution of Vanuatu is the supreme law of the Republic of Vanuatu
Engineer's Day (Bolivia)
International
Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year
International Day of No Prostitution
International
International Day of No Prostitution (IDNP) is an awareness day celebrated to oppose the practice of sex work
Republic Day (Portugal)
International
Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics
❝
The past is not just a collection of facts, but a narrative we construct to make sense of the present.
— Sean M. Carroll · born October 5, 1966