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 17 Thursday, September 17, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 17 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
1794
War 232 years ago
Flanders Campaign: France completes its conquest of the Austrian Netherlands at the Battle of Sprimont.
France completes its conquest of the Austrian Netherlands with victory at the Battle of Sprimont, securing control of the region during the Flanders Campaign.
History
What happened on September 17
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1111European history
Highest Galician nobility led by Pedro Fróilaz de Traba and the bishop Diego Gelmírez crown Alfonso VII as "King of Galicia".
Pedro Fróilaz de Traba and Bishop Diego Gelmírez lead the highest Galician nobility in crowning Alfonso VII king of Galicia.
- 1176War
The Battle of Myriokephalon is the last attempt by the Byzantine Empire to recover central Anatolia from the Seljuk Turks.
The Byzantine Empire suffers a decisive defeat at the Battle of Myriokephalon, ending its efforts to reclaim central Anatolia from the Seljuk Turks.
- 1382Royalty
Louis the Great's daughter, Mary, is crowned "king" of Hungary.
Mary, daughter of Louis the Great, is crowned "king" of Hungary, marking a significant deviation from traditional gender norms in monarchy.
- 1462War
Thirteen Years' War: A Polish army under Piotr Dunin decisively defeats the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Świecino.
A Polish army under Piotr Dunin decisively defeats the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Świecino during the Thirteen Years' War.
- 1543Culture
The first Finnish-language book, the Abckiria by Mikael Agricola, is published in Stockholm.
Mikael Agricola publishes the Abckiria, the first book in Finnish, in Stockholm.
- 1577European history
The Treaty of Bergerac is signed between King Henry III of France and the Huguenots.
The Treaty of Bergerac is signed, granting Huguenots religious freedoms and ending civil war in France.
- 1630US history
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, is founded in North America.
Puritans from England found Boston, naming it after the town in Lincolnshire.
- 1658War
The Battle of Vilanova is fought between Portugal and Spain during the Portuguese Restoration War.
Portuguese forces defeat Spanish troops in the Battle of Vilanova, securing a crucial victory for the Portuguese Restoration War.
- 1775War
American Revolutionary War: The invasion of Quebec by the Continental Army begins with the Siege of Fort St. Jean.
The Continental Army begins its invasion of Quebec with the siege of Fort Saint-Jean, marking the opening of a bold northern campaign.
- 1794War
Flanders Campaign: France completes its conquest of the Austrian Netherlands at the Battle of Sprimont.
France completes its conquest of the Austrian Netherlands with victory at the Battle of Sprimont, securing control of the region during the Flanders Campaign.
- 1849US history
American abolitionist Harriet Tubman makes her first attempt to escape from slavery.
Harriet Tubman attempts to flee slavery, marking the beginning of her journey as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
- 1928Disaster
The Okeechobee hurricane strikes southeastern Florida, killing more than 2,500 people.
A powerful hurricane devastates southeastern Florida, resulting in over 2,500 fatalities.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 17
7 this date All birthdays
Maria Luisa of Savoy
queen consort of Spain
Maria Luisa of Savoy, Queen of Spain who acted as regent during her husband Philip V's absence and wielded significant political influence during the War of the Spanish Succession, was born in 1688.
Born
1688
Died
1714
Francesco Sacrati
Italian composer
1605 – 1650
Bernhard Riemann
German-Italian mathematician and academic
1826 – 1866
William Carlos Williams
American poet, short story writer, and essayist
1883 – 1963
M. F. Husain
Indian painter and director
1915 – 2011
David Craig
Baron Craig of Radley, Northern Irish air marshal and politician
b. 1929 · 97
Kate Deines
American soccer player
b. 1989 · 37
Music
The number one songs on September 17
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 17, 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 17, 1961
The world's first retractable roof stadium, the Civic Arena, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Civic Arena in Pittsburgh opens as the world's first retractable-roof stadium.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 17, 1991
The first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) is released to the Internet.
Linus Torvalds releases the first version of the Linux kernel on the internet.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Australian Citizenship Day
International
Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on 17 September
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, observed on the previous Friday if it falls on a Saturday, the following Monday if on a Sunday; and the beginning of the Constitution Week (United States)
International
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U
Heroes' Day (Angola)
International
Heroes' Day or National Heroes' Day may refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries and territories
Marathwada Liberation Day (Maharashtra)
International
Marathwada Liberation Day, also known as Marathwada Mukti Sangram Din, is celebrated in Maharashtra on 17 September annually
National Unity Day (Belarus) (since 2021)
International
The National Unity Day is a state holiday in Belarus celebrated on September 17 and marks the unification of the Western Belarus and Eastern Belarus which happened on September 17, 1939, the day of th
Operation Market Garden Anniversary is still remembered with parachuting and dedications on this day. (Netherlands)
International
Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation during the Second World War fought in the German-occupied Netherlands from 17 to 25 September 1944