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
April 27 Monday, April 27, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 27 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
UK history 730 years ago
First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey at the Battle of Dunbar.
John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, at the Battle of Dunbar during the First War of Scottish Independence.
History
What happened on April 27
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 247World history
Philip the Arab marks the millennium of Rome with a celebration of the ludi saeculares.
Philip the Arab celebrates the millennium of Rome with ludi saeculares games.
- 395European history
Emperor Arcadius marries Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of the Frankish general Flavius Bauto. She becomes one of the more powerful Roman empresses of Late Antiquity.
Arcadius marries Aelia Eudoxia, daughter of General Flavius Bauto, elevating her to one of Late Antiquity’s influential Roman empresses.
- 711World history
Islamic conquest of Hispania: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus).
Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar, marking the start of the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
- 1296UK history
First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey at the Battle of Dunbar.
John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, at the Battle of Dunbar during the First War of Scottish Independence.
- 1521World history
Battle of Mactan: Explorer Ferdinand Magellan is killed by natives in the Philippines led by chief Lapulapu.
Ferdinand Magellan is killed in battle against native forces led by Lapulapu on Mactan Island.
- 1522European history
A Spanish-Imperial army defeats French-Venetian army in the battle of Bicocca. The battle marks the end of dominance of Swiss mercenaries on the battlefield and is one of the first where firearms play a decisive role.
Spanish-Imperial forces defeat French-Venetian troops at Bicocca, marking the decline of Swiss mercenary dominance and highlighting the impact of firearms in battle.
- 1650UK history
The Battle of Carbisdale: A Royalist army from Orkney invades mainland Scotland but is defeated by a Covenanter army.
A Royalist army invading from Orkney is defeated by Covenanter forces at the Battle of Carbisdale in the Scottish Highlands.
- 1667UK history
Blind and impoverished, John Milton sells Paradise Lost to a printer for £10, so that it could be entered into the Stationers' Register.
John Milton sells "Paradise Lost" to a printer for £10 to register it with the Stationers' Register.
- 1805War
First Barbary War: United States Marines and Berbers attack the Tripolitan city of Derna (The "shores of Tripoli" in the Marines' Hymn).
U.S. Marines capture Derna during the First Barbary War, an event immortalized in the Marine Corps hymn.
- 1813War
War of 1812: American troops capture York, the capital of Upper Canada, in the Battle of York.
American troops capture York, the capital of Upper Canada, during the Battle of York.
- 1978World history
The Saur Revolution begins in Afghanistan, ending the following morning with the murder of Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
The Saur Revolution begins in Afghanistan, leading to the overthrow and assassination of President Mohammed Daoud Khan and the establishment of a communist government.
- 2011Disaster
The 2011 Super Outbreak devastates parts of the Southeastern United States, especially the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. Two hundred five tornadoes touched down on April 27 alone, killing more than 300 and injuring hundreds more.
More than 300 people die as 205 tornadoes touch down across Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee during the Super Outbreak, one of the deadliest tornado events in U.S. history.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 27
7 this date All birthdays
Fethullah Gülen
Turkish preacher and theologian
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen, the Turkish Muslim scholar and preacher who led a movement that established over 2,000 STEM-focused schools in more than 150 countries, was born today in 1941.
Born
1941
Died
2024
Charles Emmanuel III
King of Sardinia
1701 – 1773
Sergei Prokofiev
Russian pianist, composer, and conductor
1891 – 1953
Lim Bo Seng
Chinese businessman, resistance fighter of Force 136 and war hero of Singapore
1909 – 1944
Earl Anthony
American bowler and sportscaster
1938 – 2001
Larry Elder
American lawyer and talk show host
b. 1952 · 74
Mark Holden
Australian singer, actor, and lawyer
b. 1954 · 72
Music
The number one songs on April 27
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on April 27, 2016
"One Dance"
by Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla
#1 for 15 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Too Sweet"— Hozier
- 2023"Wish You the Best"— Lewis Capaldi
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 27, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 27, 2005
Airbus A380 aircraft has its maiden test flight.
The Airbus A380 completes its first test flight.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Day of Russian Parliamentarism (Russia)
International
The following is the list of official public holidays recognized by the Government of Russia
Day of the Uprising Against the Occupying Forces (Slovenia)
International
There are two kinds of public holidays in Slovenia, state holidays and work-free days
Flag Day (Moldova)
International
Public holidays in the Republic of Moldova refer to the celebrated non-working days established by the Government of Moldova and valid for the whole territory of the country
Freedom Day (South Africa)
International
Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa celebrated on 27 April
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Sierra Leone from United Kingdom in 1961.
International
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Togo from France in 1960.
International
Public holidays in Togo are days when workers in the Togolese Republic get the day off work
❝
Freedom is indivisible, and when one man is enslaved, all are not free.
— John F. Kennedy · born April 27, 1917