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
September 12 Saturday, September 12, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 12 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
1847
War 179 years ago
Mexican-American War: the Battle of Chapultepec begins.
American forces storm Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, overwhelming its young Mexican military cadets in one of the war's final major battles.
History
What happened on September 12
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -490War
Battle of Marathon: The conventionally accepted date for the Battle of Marathon. The Athenians and their Plataean allies defeat the first Persian invasion force of Greece.
The Athenians and their Plataean allies defeat the Persian invasion force at the Battle of Marathon.
- 372World history
Sixteen Kingdoms: Sima Yao, age 10, succeeds his father Emperor Jianwen as Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin dynasty.
Sima Yao becomes Emperor Xiaowu at age 10, succeeding his father Emperor Jianwen in the Eastern Jin dynasty.
- 1213European history
Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Battle of Muret.
Simon de Montfort defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Battle of Muret, marking a crucial victory for the Albigensian Crusade.
- 1229European history
Battle of Portopí: The Aragonese army under the command of James I of Aragon disembarks at Santa Ponça, Mallorca, with the purpose of conquering the island.
James I of Aragon leads an Aragonese army to Mallorca, landing at Santa Ponça to begin the conquest of the island.
- 1309European history
The First siege of Gibraltar takes place in the context of the Spanish Reconquista pitting the forces of the Kingdom of Castile against the Emirate of Granada resulting in a Castilian victory.
The Kingdom of Castile captures Gibraltar from the Emirate of Granada in a significant victory during the Spanish Reconquista.
- 1634Disaster
A gunpowder factory explodes in Valletta, Malta, killing 22 people and damaging several buildings.
A gunpowder explosion at a factory in Valletta kills 22 people and damages nearby structures.
- 1683War
Austro-Ottoman War: Battle of Vienna: Several European armies join forces to defeat the Ottoman Empire.
European armies unite to repel the Ottoman Empire, saving Vienna from siege.
- 1847War
Mexican-American War: the Battle of Chapultepec begins.
American forces storm Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, overwhelming its young Mexican military cadets in one of the war's final major battles.
- 1890UK history
Salisbury, Rhodesia, is founded.
Robert Coryndon founds Salisbury, which later becomes the capital of Zimbabwe.
- 1923UK history
Southern Rhodesia, today called Zimbabwe, is annexed by the United Kingdom.
Southern Rhodesia becomes a British colony.
- 1944WWII
World War II: The liberation of Yugoslavia from Axis occupation continues. Bajina Bašta in western Serbia is among the liberated cities.
Yugoslav Partisans liberate Bajina Bašta in western Serbia as the campaign to free the country from Axis occupation continues.
- 2003Disaster
Typhoon Maemi, the strongest recorded typhoon to strike South Korea, made landfall near Busan.
Typhoon Maemi, the most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea, made landfall near Busan with devastating force.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 12
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 81
John Mauceri
American conductor and producer
John Mauceri, an American conductor and author known for his work in orchestral music, opera, Broadway, and film repertoire, turns 80 today.
Born
1945
Turns 81
today
John Mowbray
3rd Duke of Norfolk
1415 – 1461
Ion Agârbiceanu
Romanian journalist, politician, and archbishop
1882 – 1963
Jaegwon Kim
South Korean-American philosopher and academic
1934 – 2019
Max Walker
Australian footballer, cricketer, sportscaster, and architect
1948 – 2016
Max Boot
Russian-American historian and author
b. 1969 · 57
Kenichi Suzumura
Japanese voice actor and singer-songwriter
b. 1974 · 52
Music
The number one songs on September 12
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 12, 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 September 12, 1984
Dwight Gooden sets the baseball record for strikeouts in a season by a rookie with 276, previously set by Herb Score with 246 in 1954. Gooden's 276 strikeouts that season, pitched in 218 innings, set the current record.
Dwight Gooden sets a new rookie record with 276 strikeouts in a season, surpassing Herb Score's previous mark of 246.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 12, 1958
Jack Kilby demonstrates the first working integrated circuit while working at Texas Instruments.
Jack Kilby demonstrates the first working integrated circuit, revolutionizing electronics and earning him a share of the Nobel Prize.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Commemoration of the mass hanging of the Saint Patrick's Battalion (Mexico)
International
The Saint Patrick's Battalion, later reorganized as the Foreign Legion of Patricios, was a Mexican Army unit which fought against the United States in the Mexican-American War
Day of Conception (Russia)
International
Day of Conception is a Russian Holiday made popular by the region of Ulyanovsk, birthplace of Vladimir Lenin
Defenders Day (Maryland, United States)
International
Defenders Day is a longtime legal holiday on September 12, in the U
Enkutatash falls on this day if it is a leap year. Celebrated on the first day of Mäskäräm. (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rastafari)
International
Enkutatash is a New Year holiday in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Nayrouz (Coptic Orthodox Church) (leap years only, September 11 on normal years)
International
Nayrouz is a feast when martyrs and confessors are commemorated within the Coptic Orthodox Church
National Day (Cape Verde)
International
This is a list of holidays in Cape Verde