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
May 14 Thursday, May 14, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 14 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
War 279 years ago
War of the Austrian Succession: A British fleet under Admiral George Anson defeats the French at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre.
Admiral George Anson leads a British fleet to victory against the French in the First Battle of Cape Finisterre during the War of the Austrian Succession.
History
What happened on May 14
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1027Royalty
Robert II of France names his son Henry I as junior King of the Franks.
Robert II of France names his son Henry I as co-ruler, establishing him as junior King of the Franks.
- 1097War
The Siege of Nicaea begins during the First Crusade.
Crusader forces begin a siege against the Byzantine-held city of Nicaea, marking a significant military operation in the early stages of the First Crusade.
- 1264UK history
Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, making Simon de Montfort the effective ruler of England.
Henry III of England is captured and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, allowing Simon de Montfort to become the de facto ruler.
- 1450War
A large Ottoman force begins the siege of Albanian rebel forces in Krujë, that ultimately will fail.
An Ottoman army initiates a siege against Albanian rebels in Krujë, a campaign that will eventually prove unsuccessful.
- 1465World history
During the 1465 Moroccan revolution which overthrows the Marinid dynasty, the Jewish mellah is attacked by the population of Fez, though the extent of the massacre is debated.
The Jewish mellah in Fez is attacked during a revolution that overthrows the Marinid dynasty.
- 1509War
Battle of Agnadello: In northern Italy, French forces defeat the Republic of Venice.
French forces defeat the Republic of Venice in the Battle of Agnadello.
- 1607US history
English colonists establish "James Fort", which would become Jamestown, Virginia, the earliest permanent English settlement in the Americas.
English colonists establish James Fort on the Virginia coast, which becomes Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
- 1610Royalty
Henry IV of France is assassinated by Catholic zealot François Ravaillac, and Louis XIII ascends the throne.
François Ravaillac assassinates Henry IV, leading to Louis XIII's ascent to the French throne.
- 1747War
War of the Austrian Succession: A British fleet under Admiral George Anson defeats the French at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre.
Admiral George Anson leads a British fleet to victory against the French in the First Battle of Cape Finisterre during the War of the Austrian Succession.
- 1796Science
Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox inoculation.
Edward Jenner performs the first smallpox vaccination using material from a cowpox blister.
- 1879World history
The first group of 463 Indian indentured laborers arrives in Fiji aboard the Leonidas.
The Leonidas arrives in Fiji carrying 463 Indian indentured laborers, the first of nearly 61,000 who would migrate over the next 37 years.
- 1955War
Cold War: Eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, sign a mutual defense treaty called the Warsaw Pact.
Eight Communist bloc countries, led by the Soviet Union, form the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense treaty.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 14
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 43
Amber Tamblyn
American actress, author, model, director
Amber Tamblyn, the actress who played Emily Quartermaine on General Hospital and starred as Joan Girardi in Joan of Arcadia, turns 42 today.
Born
1983
Turns 43
today
Katakura Kagenaga
Japanese samurai
1630 – 1681
Marcel Junod
Swiss physician and anesthesiologist
1904 – 1961
Lou Harrison
American composer and critic
1917 – 2003
David Kelly
Welsh scientist
1944 – 2003
Gulmurod Khalimov
Tajikistani police commander turned Islamic State mercenary outlaw
b. 1975 · 51
Anahí
Mexican singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
b. 1983 · 43
Music
The number one songs on May 14
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"Espresso"— Sabrina Carpenter
- 2023"Miracle"— Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Body"— Tion Wayne and Russ Millions
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport May 14, 1900
Opening of World Amateur championship at the Paris Exposition Universelle, also known as Olympic Games.
The first modern Olympics opens in Paris, featuring events from the World Amateur Athletics Championship.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 14, 1973
Skylab, the United States' first space station, is launched.
Skylab, America's first space station, begins its mission after launching into orbit.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
Independence Day (Paraguay)
International
An Independence Day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end o
Hastings Banda's Birthday (Malawi)
International
This is a list of public holidays in Malawi
National Unification Day (Liberia)
International
The following are public holidays in Liberia
The first day of Izumo-taisha Shrine Grand Festival. (Izumo-taisha)
International
Izumo-taisha , officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan
❝
Art is inherently political. Even trying to make a film that has nothing to do with politics is, in and of itself, a political act.
— Amber Tamblyn · born May 14, 1983