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 9 Thursday, April 9, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on April 9 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
US history 344 years ago
Robert Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River, claims it for France and names it Louisiana.
Robert Cavelier de La Salle reaches the mouth of the Mississippi River, claiming the entire watershed for France and naming it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.
History
What happened on April 9
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 193World history
The distinguished soldier Septimius Severus is proclaimed emperor by the army in Illyricum.
Septimius Severus is declared emperor by troops in Illyricum.
- 475Religion
Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position.
Basiliscus, Byzantine Emperor, issues an Enkyklikon endorsing the Monophysite view to bishops across his realm.
- 537War
Siege of Rome: The Byzantine general Belisarius receives his promised reinforcements, 1,600 cavalry, mostly of Hunnic or Slavic origin and expert bowmen. Despite shortages, he starts raids against the Gothic camps and Vitiges but is forced into a stalemate.
Belisarius receives 1,600 cavalry reinforcements during the Siege of Rome and launches raids against Gothic camps, though supply shortages force a stalemate with Vitiges.
- 1241War
Battle of Liegnitz: Mongol forces defeat the Polish and German armies.
Mongol forces led by Batu Khan defeat a combined Polish and German army at Liegnitz.
- 1288War
Mongol invasions of Vietnam: Yuan forces are defeated by Trần forces in the Battle of Bach Dang in present-day northern Vietnam.
Yuan forces suffer a decisive defeat at the Battle of Bach Dang, losing to Vietnamese Trần troops in present-day northern Vietnam.
- 1387War
The Byzantine city of Thessalonike surrenders to the Ottomans, though rule reverts back to the Byzantines after the battle of Ankara.
Thessalonike surrenders to the Ottomans but returns to Byzantine control after the Battle of Ankara.
- 1388War
Despite being outnumbered 16:1, forces of the Old Swiss Confederacy are victorious over the Archduchy of Austria in the Battle of Näfels.
Swiss forces defeat Austrian troops at the Battle of Näfels, despite being outnumbered 16 to 1.
- 1438Religion
The Council of Ferrara begins with its first session in presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, representatives of the Patriarchal Sees of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem and Pope Eugene IV presiding.
The Council of Ferrara convenes, with Pope Eugene IV leading discussions among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs and their delegates.
- 1454European history
The Treaty of Lodi is signed, establishing a balance of power among northern Italian city-states for almost 50 years.
The Treaty of Lodi is signed, creating a balance of power among northern Italian city-states.
- 1511World history
Resettled Shiite Muslims rise up in the Şahkulu rebellion under the leadership of Şahkulu against the Ottoman Empire.
Shiite Muslims led by Şahkulu rebel against the Ottoman Empire in the Şahkulu uprising.
- 1682US history
Robert Cavelier de La Salle discovers the mouth of the Mississippi River, claims it for France and names it Louisiana.
Robert Cavelier de La Salle reaches the mouth of the Mississippi River, claiming the entire watershed for France and naming it Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.
- 1784US history
The Treaty of Paris, ratified by the United States Congress on January 14, 1784, is ratified by King George III of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ending the American Revolutionary War. Copies of the ratified documents are exchanged on May 12, 1784.
The Treaty of Paris is ratified by King George III, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.
Born today
Famous birthdays on April 9
7 this date All birthdays
Hal Ketchum
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Hal Michael Ketchum, the American country music singer-songwriter who achieved commercial success with his gold-certified album "Past the Point of Rescue," was born today in 1953.
Born
1953
Died
2020
Heinz Meyer
German Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper) during World War II
1916 – 1987
Gian Maria Volonté
Italian actor
1933 – 1994
Giovanni Andrea Cornia
Italian economist and academic
1947 – 2024
Patty Pravo
Italian singer
b. 1948 · 78
John Howard
English singer-songwriter and pianist
b. 1953 · 73
Dennis Sarfate
American baseball player
b. 1981 · 45
Music
The number one songs on April 9
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Rein Me In"— Sam Fender and Olivia Dean
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Beautiful Things"— Benson Boone
- 2023"Eyes Closed"— Ed Sheeran
- 2022"Starlight"— Dave
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport April 9, 1947
Jackie Robinson breaks baseball's color barrier with his Brooklyn Dodgers debut
Robinson becomes the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, starting at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. His debut ends six decades of segregation in professional baseball.
Read the story
🔬 Science April 9, 2021
Soyuz MS-18 is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying three members of the Expedition 64 crew to the International Space Station.
Soyuz MS-18 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome with three astronauts bound for the International Space Station.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Baghdad Liberation Day (Iraqi Kurdistan)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Iraq
Constitution Day (Kosovo)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Kosovo
Day of National Unity (Georgia)
International
Day of the Finnish Language (Finland)
International
Flag flying days in Finland are days of the year when the national flag is flown nationwide, either by law or by custom
Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan (Philippines)
International
The Day of Valor, officially known in Filipino as Araw ng Kagitingan, is a national observance in the Philippines that commemorates the fall of Bataan and the Battle of Corregidor against Japanese tro
Martyr's Day (Tunisia)
International
Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, including the Albania, Burkina Faso, India, Myanmar, Panama and Tunisia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of ge