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 15 Friday, May 15, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 15 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
8
Holidays
European history 378 years ago
The Peace of Münster is ratified, by which Spain acknowledges Dutch sovereignty.
Spain ratifies the Peace of Münster, formally recognizing the independence of the Dutch Republic and ending eighty years of conflict.
History
What happened on May 15
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 221World history
Liu Bei, Chinese warlord, proclaims himself emperor of Shu Han, the successor of the Han dynasty.
Liu Bei declares himself emperor of Shu Han, establishing it as the successor to the Han dynasty.
- 392European history
Emperor Valentinian II is assassinated while advancing into Gaul against the Frankish usurper Arbogast. He is found hanging in his residence at Vienne.
Emperor Valentinian II is found hanged in his residence in Vienne, ending his reign as he advanced into Gaul against Frankish usurper Arbogast.
- 589Royalty
King Authari marries Theodelinda, daughter of the Bavarian duke Garibald I. A Catholic, she has great influence among the Lombard nobility.
Theodelinda, a Catholic and daughter of Duke Garibald I of Bavaria, marries King Authari of the Lombards, exerting significant influence over the nobility.
- 756World history
Abd al-Rahman I, the founder of the Arab dynasty that ruled the greater part of Iberia for nearly three centuries, becomes emir of Cordova, Spain.
Abd al-Rahman I becomes emir of Cordova, founding the Arab dynasty that would rule much of Iberia for nearly three centuries.
- 908European history
Constantine VII is crowned Byzantine co-emperor.
Constantine VII is crowned co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire alongside his father.
- 1194Religion
Michael the Syrian reconsecrates the Mor Bar Sauma Monastery, which he reconstructed after its destruction by a fire. The monastery stays a center of the Syriac Orthodox Church until the end of the thirteenth century.
Michael the Syrian reconsecrates the Mor Bar Sauma Monastery after reconstructing it following a fire, restoring it as a center of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
- 1252Religion
Pope Innocent IV issues the papal bull ad extirpanda, which authorizes, but also limits, the torture of heretics in the Medieval Inquisition.
Pope Innocent IV authorizes and limits the use of torture against heretics in the Medieval Inquisition.
- 1525European history
Insurgent peasants led by Anabaptist pastor Thomas Müntzer are defeated at the Battle of Frankenhausen, ending the German Peasants' War in the Holy Roman Empire.
Thomas Müntzer's rebel forces are defeated at Frankenhausen, concluding the German Peasants' War.
- 1571European history
Venice, Spain, Naples, the Papal States, and other Italian states establish the Holy League to fight the Ottomans, resulting in the victory at Lepanto later that year.
Venice leads a coalition including Spain, Naples, and the Papal States to form the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire.
- 1602US history
Cape Cod is sighted by English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold.
Bartholomew Gosnold sights Cape Cod during his exploration of the New England coast.
- 1648European history
The Peace of Münster is ratified, by which Spain acknowledges Dutch sovereignty.
Spain ratifies the Peace of Münster, formally recognizing the independence of the Dutch Republic and ending eighty years of conflict.
- 1725Religion
Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85, about Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Johann Sebastian Bach leads the premiere of his cantata "Ich bin ein guter Hirt," BWV 85, depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 15
7 this date All birthdays
Juan Almonte
son of José María Morelos, was a Mexican soldier and diplomat who served as a regent in the Second Mexican Empire
Juan Nepomuceno Almonte Ramírez, the natural son of independence leader José María Morelos who became a Mexican soldier, diplomat, and regent in the Second Mexican Empire, was born today in 1803.
Born
1803
Died
1869
Arthur Jackson
American lieutenant and target shooter
1918 – 2015
Ulrich Beck
German sociologist and academic
1944 – 2015
Jerry Quarry
American boxer
1945 – 1999
John Smoltz
American baseball player and sportscaster
b. 1967 · 59
Desmond Howard
American football player and sportscaster
b. 1970 · 56
Adam Moffat
Scottish footballer
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on May 15
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 15, 2004
Arsenal F.C. go an entire league campaign unbeaten in the English Premier League, joining Preston North End F.C. with the right to claim the title "The Invincibles".
Arsenal F.C. complete a league season undefeated, earning them the prestigious title "The Invincibles" alongside Preston North End F.C.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 15, 1941
First flight of the Gloster E.28/39, the first British and Allied jet aircraft.
The Gloster E.28/39 takes its inaugural flight, becoming the first British and Allied jet aircraft.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)
International
The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭), or "Hollyhock Festival", is one of the three main annual festivals held in Kyoto, Japan, the other two being the Festival of the Ages and the Gion Festival
Army Day (Slovenia)
International
There are two kinds of public holidays in Slovenia, state holidays and work-free days
Constituent Assembly Day (Lithuania)
International
All official holidays in Lithuania are established by acts of Seimas
Independence Day (Paraguay), celebrates the independence of Paraguay from Spain in 1811. Celebrations for the anniversary of the independence begin on Flag Day, May 14.
International
The following are national holidays in Paraguay
International Conscientious Objectors Day
International
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion
International Day of Families (International)
International
The International Day of Families is observed on 15 May every year