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 8 Tuesday, September 8, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on September 8 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
1504
Culture 522 years ago
Michelangelo's David is unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in Florence.
Michelangelo's monumental marble David is unveiled in Florence's Piazza della Signoria, establishing itself as a masterwork of Renaissance sculpture.
History
What happened on September 8
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 70War
After the capture of Herod's Palace the previous day, a Roman army under Titus secures and plunders the city of Jerusalem.
A Roman army under Titus secures and plunders Jerusalem, following the capture of Herod's Palace.
- 617World history
Battle of Huoyi: Li Yuan defeats a Sui dynasty army, opening the path to his capture of the imperial capital Chang'an and the eventual establishment of the Tang dynasty.
Li Yuan defeats a Sui army at Huoyi, advancing his conquest of Chang'an and paving the way for the Tang dynasty.
- 1100Religion
Election of Antipope Theodoric.
Theodoric is elected antipope in Rome, challenging the legitimacy of Pope Paschal II during a period of conflict between papacy and empire.
- 1198European history
Philip of Swabia, Prince of Hohenstaufen, is crowned King of Germany (King of the Romans)
Philip of Swabia is crowned King of Germany, marking a significant moment in the Hohenstaufen dynasty's rule.
- 1264European history
The Statute of Kalisz, guaranteeing Jews safety and personal liberties and giving battei din jurisdiction over Jewish matters, is promulgated by Bolesław the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland.
Bolesław the Pious issues the Statute of Kalisz, granting Jews safety and personal liberties while giving rabbinical courts jurisdiction over Jewish matters.
- 1276Religion
Pope John XXI is elected Pope.
Peter Juliani, a physician and theologian, is elected pope, becoming the first Portuguese-born pontiff.
- 1331European history
Stefan Dušan declares himself king of Serbia.
Stefan Dušan proclaims himself King of all Serbs, Greeks, and Bulgarians.
- 1380War
Battle of Kulikovo: Russian forces defeat a mixed army of Tatars and Mongols, stopping their advance.
Dmitry Donskoy leads Russian forces to victory against Tatar and Mongol armies at the Battle of Kulikovo.
- 1504Culture
Michelangelo's David is unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in Florence.
Michelangelo's monumental marble David is unveiled in Florence's Piazza della Signoria, establishing itself as a masterwork of Renaissance sculpture.
- 1522World history
Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation: Victoria arrives at Seville, completing the first circumnavigation.
The Victoria returns to Seville, completing the first circumnavigation of the globe with just 18 survivors of the original 270-man expedition.
- 1655European history
Warsaw falls without resistance to a small force under the command of Charles X Gustav of Sweden during The Deluge, making it the first time the city is captured by a foreign army.
Warsaw falls to Swedish forces led by Charles X Gustav, marking the city's first capture by a foreign army.
- 1796War
French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Bassano: French forces defeat Austrian troops at Bassano del Grappa.
French forces defeat Austrian troops at the Battle of Bassano del Grappa.
Born today
Famous birthdays on September 8
7 this date All birthdays
Siegfried Sassoon
English captain, journalist, and poet
Siegfried Sassoon, the English war poet and soldier who vividly described the horrors of trench warfare and satirized patriotic pretensions during the First World War, was born today in 1886.
Born
1886
Died
1967
José María Pino Suárez
Mexican politician, Vice President of Mexico, murdered in a military coup
1869 – 1913
Wendell H. Ford
American politician, 53rd Governor of Kentucky
1924 – 2015
Asha Bhosle
Indian playback singer, businesswoman, actress and television personality
1933 – 2026
Os du Randt
South African rugby player and coach
b. 1972 · 54
Ellie Black
Canadian gymnast
b. 1995 · 31
Gaten Matarazzo
American actor and singer
b. 2002 · 24
Music
The number one songs on September 8
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on September 8, 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 8, 2023
The 2023 Rugby World Cup, the tenth men's Rugby World Cup is held in France. The opening ceremony, directed and written by Jean Dujardin, Olivier Ferracci and Nora Matthey, took place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, before the opening match between France and New Zealand, which saw the host nation winning 27 to 13.
The Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, directed by Jean Dujardin, featured a match where France defeated New Zealand 27-13.
Read the story
🔬 Science September 8, 2016
NASA launches OSIRIS-REx, its first asteroid sample return mission. The probe visited 101955 Bennu and returned with samples in September 2023.
NASA launches OSIRIS-REx, which visits the asteroid Bennu and returns with samples.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Accession Day (United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms) (during the reign of Charles III)
International
An accession day is usually the anniversary of the date on which a monarch or executive takes office
Independence Day (North Macedonia)
International
Independence Day in North Macedonia is celebrated on 8 September
International Literacy Day (International)
International
International Literacy Day is an international observance celebrated each year on 8 September
Martyrs' Day (Afghanistan) (date may fall on September 9, follows a non-Gregorian calendar)
International
Martyrs' Day is a statutory holiday established by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
National Day (Andorra), also the feast of Our Lady of Meritxell
International
This is a list of holidays in Andorra
National Day (Asturias), also the feast of Our Lady of Covadonga
International
Our Lady of Covadonga also named "La Santina" is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the name of a Marian shrine devoted to her at Covadonga, Asturias