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
March 23 Monday, March 23, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on March 23 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
6
Holidays
Disaster 0 years ago
An Aerospace Force Lockheed C-130 crashes during take-off in Puerto Leguízamo, Columbia, killing 70 people.
A Colombian Air Force Lockheed C-130 crashes during takeoff in Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia, killing all 70 people aboard.
History
What happened on March 23
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 625Religion
The Muslim army under Muhammad suffers a defeat against the Quraysh in the battle of Uhud.
Muhammad's forces suffer a setback at the Battle of Uhud when they are defeated by the Quraysh.
- 1400World history
The Trần dynasty of Vietnam is deposed, after one hundred and seventy-five years of rule, by Hồ Quý Ly, a court official.
Hồ Quý Ly overthrows the Trần dynasty, ending 175 years of rule in Vietnam.
- 1540UK history
Waltham Abbey is surrendered to King Henry VIII of England, the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Waltham Abbey is surrendered to King Henry VIII, marking the end of the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
- 1568European history
The Peace of Longjumeau is signed, ending the second phase of the French Wars of Religion.
Cardinal Richelieu negotiates the Peace of Longjumeau, ending the second phase of the French Wars of Religion.
- 1775US history
American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech, "Give me liberty or give me death!", at St. John's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia.
Patrick Henry delivers his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia.
- 1806US history
After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery begin their arduous journey home.
Lewis and Clark start their challenging return journey after exploring the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean.
- 1889Religion
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is established by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Qadian, British India.
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad founds the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Qadian, British India.
- 1913Disaster
A tornado outbreak kills more than 240 people in the central United States, while an ongoing flood in the Ohio River watershed was killing 650 people.
A tornado outbreak killed over 240 people in the central United States, while catastrophic flooding along the Ohio River claimed 650 lives.
- 1988War
Angolan and Cuban forces defeat South Africa in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.
Angolan and Cuban forces defeat South African troops in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.
- 2009Disaster
FedEx Express Flight 80: A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 flying from Guangzhou, China crashes at Tokyo's Narita International Airport, killing both the captain and the co-pilot.
A FedEx Express MD-11 crashes upon landing at Tokyo's Narita International Airport, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.
- 2021Disaster
A container ship runs aground and obstructs the Suez Canal for six days.
The container ship Ever Given runs aground in the Suez Canal, blocking one of the world's busiest shipping routes for six days.
- 2026Disaster
An Aerospace Force Lockheed C-130 crashes during take-off in Puerto Leguízamo, Columbia, killing 70 people.
A Colombian Air Force Lockheed C-130 crashes during takeoff in Puerto Leguízamo, Colombia, killing all 70 people aboard.
Born today
Famous birthdays on March 23
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 73
Chaka Khan
American singer-songwriter
Chaka Khan, known as the "Queen of Funk," turns 73 today, having enjoyed a five-decade career beginning as lead vocalist of Rufus and continuing with solo hits like "I'm Every Woman" and "Ain't Nobody."
Born
1953
Turns 73
today
Philip Zimbardo
American psychologist and academic
1933 – 2024
Phil Lanzon
English keyboard player and songwriter
b. 1950 · 76
Ron Jaworski
American football player and sportscaster
b. 1951 · 75
Lorenzo Daniel
American sprinter
b. 1966 · 60
Mike Atherton
English cricketer and journalist
b. 1968 · 58
Jason Kidd
American basketball player and coach
b. 1973 · 53
Music
The number one songs on March 23
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"American Girls"— Harry Styles
- 2025"Pink Pony Club"— Chappell Roan
- 2024"Texas Hold 'Em"— Beyoncé
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"Starlight"— Dave
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport March 23, 2001
Tiger Woods completes the Tiger Slam, holding all four major golf titles simultaneously
Woods won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, his fourth consecutive major championship victory following wins at the 2000 U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship. This marked the first time since Bobby Jones in 1930 that a golfer held all four major titles at once.
Read the story
🔬 Science March 23, 1965
NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-man space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young).
Gus Grissom and John Young embark on the United States' first two-person space mission.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship (Hungary and Poland)
International
"Pole and Hungarian brothers be" and "Pole and Hungarian, two good friends" are English translations of a proverbial saying about the traditional brotherhood and camaraderie between Poles and Hungaria
Day of the Sea (Bolivia)
International
Día del Mar is an annual celebration in Bolivia that observes the loss of Litoral Department during the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific with Chile
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Day (Azerbaijan)
International
There are several public holidays in Azerbaijan
Pakistan Day (Pakistan)
International
Pakistan Day is a national holiday in Pakistan celebrated annually on 23 March
Promised Messiah Day (Ahmadiyya)
International
Promised Messiah Day is commemorated by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslims annually on March 23 which marked the day when Mirza Ghulam Ahmad whom the Ahmadis consider as the Promised Messiah took oath o
World Meteorological Day
International
World Meteorological Day was established in 1951 to commemorate the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950
❝
I'm a musician. Anything I've done, academically, has been in service of that.
— Chaka Khan · born March 23, 1953