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
February 19 Thursday, February 19, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 19 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
4
Holidays
1978
War 48 years ago
Egyptian forces raid Larnaca International Airport in an attempt to intervene in a hijacking, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces kill 15 Egyptian commandos and destroy the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat.
Egyptian commandos raid Larnaca International Airport without Cypriot authorization to intervene in a hijacking; Cypriot forces kill 15 commandos and destroy their C-130 transport plane.
History
What happened on February 19
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 197World history
Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, the bloodiest battle between Roman armies.
Septimius Severus defeats Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum, a conflict marked by unprecedented violence among Roman forces.
- 356Religion
The anti-paganism policy of Constantius II forbids the worship of pagan idols in the Roman Empire.
Constantius II issues a decree banning the worship of pagan idols throughout the Roman Empire.
- 607Religion
Pope Boniface III is consecrated in Rome.
Pope Boniface III is consecrated as the bishop of Rome.
- 1594European history
Having already been elected to the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1587, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III of Sweden in 1592.
Sigismund III of the House of Vasa is crowned King of Sweden, having succeeded his father John III two years earlier while already ruling the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
- 1600Disaster
The Peruvian stratovolcano Huaynaputina explodes in the most violent eruption in the recorded history of South America.
Huaynaputina volcano erupts violently, causing widespread destruction and famine across southern Peru.
- 1649War
The Second Battle of Guararapes takes place, effectively ending Dutch colonization efforts in Brazil.
Portuguese forces defeat the Dutch in the Second Battle of Guararapes, ending Dutch colonial ambitions in Brazil.
- 1714War
Great Northern War: The battle of Napue between Sweden and Russia is fought in Isokyrö, Ostrobothnia.
Swedish and Russian forces clash in the Battle of Napue during the Great Northern War.
- 1726World history
The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia.
The Supreme Privy Council is established as an advisory body to Russian emperors.
- 1807US history
Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama, and confined to Fort Stoddert.
Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield and confined to Fort Stoddert.
- 1819World history
British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands.
William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands during an Antarctic expedition.
- 1978War
Egyptian forces raid Larnaca International Airport in an attempt to intervene in a hijacking, without authorisation from the Republic of Cyprus authorities. The Cypriot National Guard and Police forces kill 15 Egyptian commandos and destroy the Egyptian C-130 transport plane in open combat.
Egyptian commandos raid Larnaca International Airport without Cypriot authorization to intervene in a hijacking; Cypriot forces kill 15 commandos and destroy their C-130 transport plane.
- 2012Crime
Forty-four people are killed in a prison brawl in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Mexico.
A violent prison brawl in Apodaca, Nuevo León, results in forty-four deaths.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 19
7 this date All birthdays
Eddie Arcaro
American jockey and sportscaster
Eddie Arcaro, the American jockey who won more classic races than any other rider in history and remains the only jockey to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice, was born today in 1916.
Born
1916
Died
1997
Sven Hedin
Swedish geographer and explorer
1865 – 1952
Les Hinton
English-American journalist and businessman
b. 1944 · 82
Hana Mandlíková
Czech-Australian tennis player and coach
b. 1962 · 64
Seal
English singer-songwriter
b. 1963 · 63
Reynhard Sinaga
Indonesian sex offender
b. 1983 · 43
Seth Morrison
American guitarist
b. 1988 · 38
Music
The number one songs on February 19
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Opalite"— Taylor Swift
- 2025"Messy"— Lola Young
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport February 19, 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 February 19, 2002
NASA's Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system.
NASA's Mars Odyssey begins mapping the Martian surface with its thermal emission imaging system.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Army Day (Mexico)
International
In Mexico, there are three major kinds of public holidays:Statutory holiday: holidays observed all around Mexico
Brâncuși Day (Romania)
International
The following is a list of public holidays in Romania
Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria)
International
Vasil Levski, born Vasil Ivanov Kunchev, was a Bulgarian revolutionary who is, today, a national hero of Bulgaria
Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India)
International
Shiv Jayanti, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, is a festival and public holiday of the Indian state of Maharashtra
❝
Once a guy starts wearing silk pajamas it's hard to get up early.
— Eddie Arcaro · born February 19, 1916