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 18 Monday, May 18, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 18 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
7
Holidays
World history 758 years ago
The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch.
Mamluk Sultan Baibars captures Antioch, ending nearly 170 years of Crusader rule over the strategic Mediterranean port city.
History
What happened on May 18
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 332Religion
Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople.
Emperor Constantine the Great announces free food distributions to the citizens of Constantinople, establishing a welfare system that would continue for centuries.
- 872Royalty
Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I.
Louis II is crowned Holy Roman Emperor for a second time in Rome.
- 1012Religion
Pope Benedict VIII begins his papacy following the death of his predecessor Pope Sergius IV earlier that month.
Pope Benedict VIII assumes the papal position after the recent passing of Pope Sergius IV.
- 1096World history
First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany.
Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms during the First Crusade.
- 1152Royalty
The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England.
Henry, the future king, marries Eleanor of Aquitaine; he ascends to the throne two years later following King Stephen's death.
- 1268World history
The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch.
Mamluk Sultan Baibars captures Antioch, ending nearly 170 years of Crusader rule over the strategic Mediterranean port city.
- 1291War
Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
The city of Acre falls to Mamluk forces, ending nearly two centuries of Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
- 1302European history
Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia.
Members of the Flemish militia carried out a nighttime attack on the French garrison in Bruges.
- 1388War
During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Ming army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan.
General Lan Yu leads a Ming army against Tögüs Temür's Mongols at Buyur Lake.
- 1499World history
Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela.
Alonso de Ojeda departs from Cádiz to explore the coast of present-day Venezuela.
- 1565War
The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta.
Ottoman forces begin a siege on Malta, marking the start of a prolonged battle that ends with their failure to conquer the island.
- 1631US history
In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
John Winthrop is sworn in as the first Governor of Massachusetts.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 18
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 57
Martika
American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
Martika, the American singer-songwriter and actress who played Gloria on Kids Incorporated and topped charts with "Toy Soldiers," turns 56 today.
Born
1969
Turns 57
today
Oliver Heaviside
English engineer, mathematician, and physicist
1850 – 1925
Walter Gropius
German-American architect, designed the John F. Kennedy Federal Building
1883 – 1969
Joan Eardley
British artist
1921 – 1963
Yannick Noah
French tennis player
b. 1960 · 66
Ivet Lalova
Bulgarian sprinter
b. 1984 · 42
Jessica Watson
Australian sailor
b. 1993 · 33
Music
The number one songs on May 18
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 18, 1990
In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).
A modified TGV train sets a new rail world speed record at 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).
Read the story
🔬 Science May 18, 2005
A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.
Hubble Space Telescope images confirm Pluto has two more moons, named Nix and Hydra.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Baltic Fleet Day (Russia)
International
The following is the list of official public holidays recognized by the Government of Russia
Day of Remembrance of Crimean Tatar genocide (Ukraine)
International
During the Sürgünlik ("exile"), at least 191,044 Crimean Tatars were subjected to ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide through deportation carried out by Soviet Union authorities from 18 to 20 May 1
Independence Day (Somaliland) (unrecognized)
International
Restoration Day in Somaliland is an annual national celebration observed on 18 May in Somaliland
International Museum Day
International
International Museum Day (IMD) is an international day held annually on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM)
National Speech Pathologist Day (United States)
International
Speech-language pathology, also known as speech and language pathology or logopedics, is a healthcare and academic discipline concerning the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of communication diso
Revival, Unity, and Poetry of Magtymguly Day (Turkmenistan)
International
Public Holidays in Turkmenistan are laid out in the Constitution of Turkmenistan, which acts as a list of nationally recognized public holidays in the country
❝
A museum is a place where one should lose one's head.
— Renzo Piano · born May 18, 1937