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
January 17 Saturday, January 17, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on January 17 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
2
Holidays
War 215 years ago
Mexican War of Independence: In the Battle of Calderón Bridge, a heavily outnumbered Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries.
A Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries in the Battle of Calderón Bridge during the Mexican War of Independence.
History
What happened on January 17
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -38World history
Octavian divorces his wife Scribonia and marries Livia Drusilla, ending the fragile peace between the Second Triumvirate and Sextus Pompey.
Octavian ends his marriage to Scribonia and weds Livia Drusilla, solidifying power amid political turmoil.
- 1362Disaster
Saint Marcellus' flood kills at least 25,000 people on the shores of the North Sea.
A catastrophic storm surge driven by high tides and gale-force winds kills at least 25,000 people along the North Sea coast.
- 1377Religion
Pope Gregory XI reaches Rome, after deciding to move the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon.
Pope Gregory XI arrives in Rome, ending the Avignon Papacy and restoring the seat of the Catholic Church to its original home.
- 1562Religion
France grants religious toleration to the Huguenots in the Edict of Saint-Germain.
Henry IV issues the Edict of Saint-Germain, granting substantial rights and protections to the French Protestant Huguenots.
- 1595European history
During the French Wars of Religion, Henry IV of France declares war on Spain.
Henry IV of France declares war on Spain during the French Wars of Religion.
- 1648UK history
England's Long Parliament passes the "Vote of No Addresses", breaking off negotiations with King Charles I and thereby setting the scene for the second phase of the English Civil War.
The Long Parliament in England passes the "Vote of No Addresses," ending negotiations with King Charles I and paving the way for the second phase of the English Civil War.
- 1649UK history
The Second Ormonde Peace creates an alliance between the Irish Royalists and Confederates during the War of the Three Kingdoms. The coalition was then decisively defeated during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
The Second Ormonde Peace unites Irish Royalists and Confederates; their alliance is later crushed in the Cromwellian conquest.
- 1781US history
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cowpens: Continental troops under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan defeat British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton at the battle in South Carolina.
Daniel Morgan's Continental forces rout Banastre Tarleton's British troops at Cowpens, South Carolina, in a decisive American victory during the Revolutionary War.
- 1799World history
Maltese patriot Dun Mikiel Xerri, along with a number of other patriots, is executed.
Dun Mikiel Xerri, a Maltese patriot, is executed alongside several fellow nationalists.
- 1811War
Mexican War of Independence: In the Battle of Calderón Bridge, a heavily outnumbered Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries.
A Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries in the Battle of Calderón Bridge during the Mexican War of Independence.
- 1885UK history
A British force defeats a large Dervish army at the Battle of Abu Klea in the Sudan.
A British force defeats a large Dervish army at the Battle of Abu Klea, suffering heavy losses but securing supply lines.
- 1969US history
Black Panther Party members Bunchy Carter and John Huggins are killed during a meeting in Campbell Hall on the campus of UCLA.
Bunchy Carter and John Huggins, leaders of the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Panther Party, were killed during a meeting at UCLA.
Born today
Famous birthdays on January 17
7 this date All birthdays
Eduard Oja
Estonian composer, conductor, educator, and critic
Eduard Oja, the Estonian composer, conductor, educator, and critic who studied at Tartu University alongside Eduard Tubin, was born today in 1905.
Born
1905
Died
1950
Nicolae Iorga
Romanian historian and politician, 34th Prime Minister of Romania
1871 – 1940
Marcel Petiot
French physician and serial killer
1897 – 1946
Alain Badiou
French philosopher and academic
b. 1937 · 89
Susanna Hoffs
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress
b. 1959 · 67
Denis O'Hare
American actor and singer
b. 1962 · 64
Sebastian Junger
American journalist and author
b. 1962 · 64
Music
The number one songs on January 17
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"End of Beginning"— Djo
- 2025"That's So True"— Gracie Abrams
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Escapism"— Raye featuring 070 Shake
- 2022"Easy on Me"— Adele
- 2021"Sweet Melody"— Little Mix
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport January 17, 1994
An earthquake measuring 6.7 strikes Northridge, California, killing 57 people
The Northridge earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles at 4:30 a.m. local time. The quake caused widespread damage estimated at over $20 billion, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in United States history.
Read the story
🔬 Science January 17, 1912
Robert Falcon Scott's expedition reaches the South Pole, finding Amundsen arrived first
British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his four companions reached the South Pole to discover that Norwegian Roald Amundsen's team had beaten them by 34 days. All five members of Scott's party perished on the return journey.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
National Day (Menorca, Spain)
International
A national day is a day on which celebrations mark the statehood or nationhood of a state or its people
The opening ceremony of Patras Carnival, celebrated until Clean Monday. (Patras, Greece)
International
The Patras Carnival, or Patrino karnavali, is the largest event of its kind in Greece
❝
I have not yet begun to fight!
— John Paul Jones · born January 17, 1747