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 13 Sunday, September 13, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 13 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
4
Holidays
-509
World history 2535 years ago
The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September.
The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is dedicated on the Capitoline Hill, establishing Rome's most important religious sanctuary and symbolizing the young Republic's power.
History
What happened on September 13
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -585World history
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, king of Rome, celebrates a triumph for his victories over the Sabines, and the surrender of Collatia.
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus celebrates a triumph for his victories over the Sabines and the surrender of Collatia.
- -509World history
The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Rome's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September.
The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus is dedicated on the Capitoline Hill, establishing Rome's most important religious sanctuary and symbolizing the young Republic's power.
- 533War
Belisarius of the Byzantine Empire defeats Gelimer and the Vandals at the Battle of Ad Decimum, near Carthage, North Africa.
Belisarius defeats Gelimer and the Vandals in a decisive battle near Carthage, securing Byzantine control over North Africa.
- 1229World history
Ögedei Khan is proclaimed Khagan of the Mongol Empire in Kodoe Aral, Khentii: Mongolia.
Ögedei Khan is proclaimed Khagan of the Mongol Empire in Kodoe Aral, marking the beginning of his rule.
- 1437War
Battle of Tangier: a Portuguese expeditionary force initiates a failed attempt to seize the Moroccan citadel of Tangier.
A Portuguese expeditionary force begins an unsuccessful assault on the Moroccan citadel of Tangier.
- 1609US history
Henry Hudson reaches the river that would later be named after him, the Hudson River.
Henry Hudson reaches a river that would later bear his name.
- 1645UK history
Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Scottish Royalists are defeated by Covenanters at the Battle of Philiphaugh.
The Scottish Royalists suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of the Covenanters at the Battle of Philiphaugh, effectively ending the Marquess of Montrose's campaign in Scotland.
- 1759Canadian history
Battle of the Plains of Abraham: the British defeat the French near Quebec City in the Seven Years' War, known in the United States as the French and Indian War.
British forces under General James Wolfe defeat the French on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City, a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War that secures British control of Canada.
- 1782War
American Revolutionary War: Franco-Spanish troops launch the unsuccessful "grand assault" during the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
Franco-Spanish forces attempt a major attack on Gibraltar but fail in their effort to capture the British fortress.
- 1814US history
In a turning point in the War of 1812, the British fail to capture Baltimore. During the battle, Francis Scott Key composes his poem "Defence of Fort McHenry", which is later set to music and becomes the United States' national anthem.
The British fail to capture Baltimore; during the battle, Francis Scott Key writes "Defence of Fort McHenry," later becoming the U.S. national anthem.
- 1899Sports
Mackinder, Ollier and Brocherel make the first ascent of Batian (5,199 m, 17,058 ft), the highest peak of Mount Kenya.
Mackinder, Ollier, and Brocherel reach the summit of Batian, the highest peak in Mount Kenya at 5,199 meters.
- 1988Disaster
Hurricane Gilbert is the strongest recorded hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, later replaced by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 (based on barometric pressure).
Hurricane Gilbert becomes the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricane until surpassed by Hurricane Wilma.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 13
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 61
Annie Duke
American poker player and author
Annie Duke, former professional poker player who won a World Series of Poker gold bracelet in 2004 and now writes about decision science, turns 61 today.
Born
1965
Turns 61
today
Stanley Lord
English captain
1877 – 1962
Annie Kenney
leading British suffragette
1879 – 1953
Corneliu Zelea Codreanu
Romanian politician
1899 – 1938
Eileen Fulton
American actress
1933 – 2025
Peter Roskam
American lawyer and politician
b. 1961 · 65
Colin Marston
American guitarist, bassist, and producer/engineer
b. 1982 · 44
Music
The number one songs on September 13
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 13, 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 13, 2007
The McLaren F1 team are found guilty of possessing confidential information from the Ferrari team, fined $100 million, and excluded from the constructors' championship standings.
McLaren is fined $100 million and banned from the constructors' championship for possessing Ferrari's confidential data.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 13, 1956
The IBM 305 RAMAC is introduced, the first commercial computer to use disk storage.
IBM introduces the 305 RAMAC, the first commercial computer with disk storage.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Day of the Programmer, during a non-leap year. (Russia)
International
Programmer's Day, also known as the Day of the Programmer and occasionally as Day 2^8, is an international professional day that is celebrated on the 256th (hexadecimal 100th, or the 28th) day of each
Día de los Niños Héroes (Mexico)
International
The Niños Héroes were six Mexican military cadets who were killed in the defence of Mexico City during the Battle of Chapultepec, one of the last major battles of the Mexican-American War, on 13 Septe
Engineer's Day (Mauritius)
International
Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year
Roald Dahl Day (Africa, United Kingdom, Latin America)
International
Roald Dahl was a British author of popular children's literature and short stories, a poet, screenwriter and a wartime fighter ace