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 5 Saturday, September 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 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
5
Holidays
1590
European history 436 years ago
An army led by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma forces Henry IV of France to lift the siege of Paris.
Henry IV abandons his siege of Paris after an army led by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, intervenes to relieve the city.
History
What happened on September 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 917World history
Liu Yan declares himself emperor, establishing the Southern Han state in southern China, at his capital of Panyu.
Liu Yan proclaims himself emperor and founds the Southern Han state with its capital at Panyu.
- 1367World history
Swa Saw Ke becomes king of Ava
Swa Saw Ke ascends to the throne as king of Ava.
- 1590European history
An army led by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma forces Henry IV of France to lift the siege of Paris.
Henry IV abandons his siege of Paris after an army led by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, intervenes to relieve the city.
- 1661Politics
Fall of Nicolas Fouquet: Louis XIV's Superintendent of Finances is arrested in Nantes by D'Artagnan, captain of the king's musketeers.
Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's superintendent of finances, is arrested in Nantes by D'Artagnan, captain of the king's musketeers.
- 1698European history
In an effort to Westernize his nobility, Tsar Peter I of Russia imposes a tax on beards for all men except the clergy and peasantry.
Tsar Peter I imposes a beard tax on Russian noblemen to promote Westernization, exempting only the clergy and peasants.
- 1781US history
Battle of the Chesapeake in the American Revolutionary War: The British Navy is repelled by the French Navy, contributing to the British surrender at Yorktown.
The French Navy repels the British fleet in the Battle of the Chesapeake, securing control of Chesapeake Bay and enabling the siege that leads to British surrender at Yorktown.
- 1798Politics
Conscription is made mandatory in France by the Jourdan law.
The Jourdan law introduces compulsory military service in France.
- 1839UK history
The United Kingdom declares war on the Qing dynasty of China.
The United Kingdom declares war on the Qing dynasty, marking the beginning of the Second Opium War.
- 1877US history
American Indian Wars: Oglala Sioux chief Crazy Horse is bayoneted by a United States soldier after resisting confinement in a guardhouse at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.
Oglala Lakota leader Crazy Horse is fatally bayoneted by a U.S. soldier while resisting imprisonment at Fort Robinson in Nebraska.
- 1937War
Spanish Civil War: Llanes falls to the Nationalists following a one-day siege.
Llanes falls to the Nationalists after a brief one-day siege during the Spanish Civil War.
- 1996Disaster
Hurricane Fran makes landfall near Cape Fear, North Carolina as a Category 3 storm with 115 mph sustained winds. Fran caused over $3 billion in damage and killed 27 people.
Hurricane Fran makes landfall near Cape Fear with 115 mph winds, causing over $3 billion in damage and killing 27 people.
- 2022UK history
Liz Truss is declared the winner of the UK Conservative Party leadership election, beating Rishi Sunak.
Liz Truss wins the UK Conservative Party leadership election, defeating Rishi Sunak.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 5
7 this date All birthdays
Fan Zhongyan
Chinese chancellor
Fan Zhongyan, the accomplished statesman, writer, and reformer who led the Qingli reforms as vice chancellor under Emperor Renzong of the northern Song dynasty, was born today in 989.
Born
989
Died
1052
Otto Bauer
Austrian philosopher and politician, Foreign Minister of Austria
1881 – 1938
Paul Dietzel
American football player and coach
1924 – 2013
Bill Mazeroski
American baseball player and coach
1936 – 2026
Raquel Welch
American actress and singer
1940 – 2023
Dave Dryden
Canadian ice hockey player and coach
1941 – 2022
Gregorio Paltrinieri
Italian swimmer
b. 1994 · 32
Music
The number one songs on September 5
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 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 September 5, 1960
Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) wins the gold medal in the light heavyweight boxing competition at the Olympic Games in Rome.
Cassius Clay wins the gold medal in lightweight boxing at the Olympics in Rome.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 5, 1977
Voyager Program: NASA launches the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
Voyager 1 begins its journey to explore the outer planets and eventually leave the solar system.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Earliest date on which Jeûne genevois can fall, while September 11 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday after the first Sunday of September. (Canton of Geneva)
International
Jeûne genevois is a public holiday in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland which occurs on the Thursday following the first Sunday of September
International Day of Charity
International
The International Day of Charity is an international day observed annually on 5 September
Teacher's Day (India)
International
Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers
The flag-flying day for Denmark's deployed personnel (Denmark)
International
A flag day is a flag-related holiday, a day designated for flying a certain flag or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag
First day of school in Vietnam
International
An academic year, or school year, is a period that schools, colleges and universities use to measure the duration of studies for a given educational level
❝
The worries of the world come first; the joys of the world come last.
— Fan Zhongyan · born September 5, 989