On this day

January 9 Friday, January 9, 2026

A curious almanac of what happened on January 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.

Events

Birthdays

Holidays

Read today's stories The #1 songs

January 9, 681: Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.

681

European history 1345 years ago

Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.

King Erwig of the Visigoths convenes the Twelfth Council of Toledo, which enacts severe restrictions against Jews in Spain.

Read the full story →

History

What happened on January 9

12 verified entries Full timeline

400

Aelia Eudoxia is officially crowned empress of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Aelia Eudoxia is officially crowned empress of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Royalty
475

Verina, the Eastern Roman dowager Empress, instigates a riot in Constantinople and persuades emperor Zeno, her son-in-law, to flee. The Byzantine senate, however, acclaims Basiliscus as emperor and not her lover Patricius.

Verina instigates a riot in Constantinople, persuading Zeno to flee while the senate proclaims Basiliscus emperor.

European history
681

Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.

King Erwig of the Visigoths convenes the Twelfth Council of Toledo, which enacts severe restrictions against Jews in Spain.

European history
1038

An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimated 32,300.

An earthquake strikes Dingxiang, China, killing approximately 23,000 people.

Disaster
1127

Jin-Song Wars: Invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin dynasty besiege and sack Bianjing (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song dynasty of China, and abduct Emperor Qinzong of Song and others, ending the Northern Song period.

Jurchen soldiers from the Jin dynasty capture Bianjing, the Song capital, sacking the city and taking Emperor Qinzong and others hostage.

War
1349

The Jewish population of Basel, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing Black Death, is rounded up and incinerated.

The Jewish community in Basel is rounded up and burned alive, accused of causing the Black Death.

Disaster
1431

The trial of Joan of Arc begins in Rouen.

Joan of Arc stands trial in Rouen, facing charges of heresy and witchcraft.

Royalty
1693

Sicily earthquake: The first of two earthquakes destroys parts of Sicily and Malta. After the second quake on 11 January, the death toll is estimated at between 60,000 and 100,000 people.

A devastating earthquake strikes Sicily and Malta, the first of two tremors that together claim an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 lives.

Disaster
1788

Connecticut becomes the fifth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

Connecticut joins the Union as the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

US history
1793

Jean-Pierre Blanchard becomes the first person to fly in a balloon in the United States.

Jean-Pierre Blanchard ascends in a hot air balloon from Philadelphia, becoming the first person to fly in a balloon in the United States.

US history
1861

Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

Mississippi secedes from the Union, becoming the second state to do so prior to the American Civil War.

US history
1914

The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity is founded by African-American students at Howard University in Washington D.C., United States.

African-American students found the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity at Howard University.

US history

See all 12 events on January 9 →

Born today

Famous birthdays on January 9

7 this date All birthdays

Halyna Kuzmenko

Ukrainian teacher and anarchist revolutionary

Halyna Kuzmenko, the Ukrainian teacher and anarchist revolutionary who became a prominent figure in the Makhnovshchina movement and spearheaded its educational efforts, was born today in 1897.

Carrie Chapman Catt

American activist, founded the League of Women Voters and International Alliance of Women

1859 – 1947

Giovanni Papini

Italian journalist, author, and poet

1881 – 1956

Crystal Gayle

American singer-songwriter and producer

b. 1951 · 75

Bruce Boudreau

Canadian ice hockey player and coach

b. 1955 · 71

Álvaro Soler

Spanish singer-songwriter

b. 1991 · 35

Jack Campbell

American ice hockey player

b. 1992 · 34

Music

The number one songs on January 9

Across the years Full chart history

🇬🇧 #1 on January 9, 1993

"I Will Always Love You"

by Whitney Houston

#1 for 10 weeks

Apple Music ↗

Also #1 on this day

2026

"Where Is My Husband!"

— Raye
2025

"That's So True"

— Gracie Abrams
2024

"Last Christmas"

— Wham!
2023

"Last Christmas"

— Wham!
2022

"Merry Christmas"

— Ed Sheeran and Elton John
2021

"Last Christmas"

— Wham!

Film & TV

At the movies

Box office #1 and premieres All releases

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

🏆 Sport

January 9, 2007

Roger Federer wins his tenth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open

Federer defeats Fernando González in straight sets to claim his third Australian Open championship. The victory moves him into double digits for Grand Slam titles, tying him with Bill Tilden and Rod Laver.

Read the story

🔬 Science

January 9, 1992

The first discoveries of extrasolar planets are announced by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail. They discovered two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12.

Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail announce the discovery of two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12.

Read the story

Today is also

Holidays & observances

4 celebrated today

Start of Hōonkō (Nishi Honganji) January 9-16 (Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism)

International

Hōonkō (報恩講) is a holiday in the Jodo Shinshu tradition of Buddhism which commemorates the death of its founder, Shinran Shonin

Martyrs' Day (Panama)

International

Martyrs' Day is a Panamanian day of national mourning which commemorates the January 9, 1964 anti-American riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone

Non-Resident Indian Day (India)

International

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is a celebratory day observed on 9 January by the Republic of India to mark the contribution of the Overseas Indian community towards the development of India

Day of Republika Srpska (Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, result of 2016 Republika Srpska National Day referendum) (note: not celebrated and disputed in wider Bosnia and Herzegovina, having been declared unconstitutional in 2015)

International

Day of Republika Srpska is a formerly official national holiday of the Republika Srpska, which has been proclaimed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina

January 2026

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Jump to any date Year view →

Quiz of the day

Which earthquake resulted in an estimated death toll of between 60,000 and 100,000 people?

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Did you know

Aelia Eudoxia was crowned empress of the Eastern Roman Empire in 400.

❝

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

— Thomas Paine · born January 9, 1737

September 2026

January 9 Friday, January 9, 2026

Were you born on January 9?

Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.

What happened on January 9

Aelia Eudoxia is officially crowned empress of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Verina, the Eastern Roman dowager Empress, instigates a riot in Constantinople and persuades emperor Zeno, her son-in-law, to flee. The Byzantine senate, however, acclaims Basiliscus as emperor and not her lover Patricius.

Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain.

An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimated 32,300.

Jin-Song Wars: Invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin dynasty besiege and sack Bianjing (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song dynasty of China, and abduct Emperor Qinzong of Song and others, ending the Northern Song period.

The Jewish population of Basel, believed by the residents to be the cause of the ongoing Black Death, is rounded up and incinerated.

The trial of Joan of Arc begins in Rouen.

Sicily earthquake: The first of two earthquakes destroys parts of Sicily and Malta. After the second quake on 11 January, the death toll is estimated at between 60,000 and 100,000 people.

Connecticut becomes the fifth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

Jean-Pierre Blanchard becomes the first person to fly in a balloon in the United States.

Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War.

The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity is founded by African-American students at Howard University in Washington D.C., United States.

Famous birthdays on January 9

Halyna Kuzmenko

Carrie Chapman Catt

Giovanni Papini

Crystal Gayle

Bruce Boudreau

Álvaro Soler

Jack Campbell

The number one songs on January 9

"I Will Always Love You"

"One Sweet Day"

At the movies

The Empire Strikes Back

Roger Federer wins his tenth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open

The first discoveries of extrasolar planets are announced by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail. They discovered two planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12.

Holidays & observances

Start of Hōonkō (Nishi Honganji) January 9-16 (Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism)

Martyrs' Day (Panama)

Non-Resident Indian Day (India)

Day of Republika Srpska (Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, result of 2016 Republika Srpska National Day referendum) (note: not celebrated and disputed in wider Bosnia and Herzegovina, having been declared unconstitutional in 2015)