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 22 Friday, May 22, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 22 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
War 506 years ago
The massacre at the festival of Tóxcatl takes place during the Fall of Tenochtitlan, resulting in turning the Aztecs against the Spanish.
Spanish forces under Pedro de Alvarado slaughter Aztec nobles celebrating the Tóxcatl festival in Tenochtitlan, igniting fierce resistance that would seal the conquistadors' temporary expulsion from the city.
History
What happened on May 22
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 192World history
Dong Zhuo is assassinated by his adopted son Lü Bu.
Dong Zhuo is killed by his adopted son Lü Bu in a plot to end the tyrant's rule over China.
- 760Science
Fourteenth recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.
Halley's Comet reaches its closest approach to the Sun, marking its fourteenth recorded perihelion.
- 853War
A Byzantine fleet sacks and destroys undefended Damietta in Egypt.
A Byzantine fleet raids and demolishes undefended Damietta in Egypt.
- 1176War
The Hashshashin (Assassins) attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo.
A group of Hashshashin attempts to assassinate Saladin near the city of Aleppo.
- 1200UK history
King John of England and King Philip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet.
King John of England and King Philip II of France sign the Treaty of Le Goulet, ending years of conflict over continental territories and recognizing John's claim to Normandy in exchange for territorial concessions.
- 1254European history
Serbian King Stefan Uroš I and the Republic of Venice sign a peace treaty.
Stefan Uroš I of Serbia and the Republic of Venice sign a peace treaty, ending years of conflict over territorial disputes in the Adriatic region.
- 1370European history
Brussels massacre: An estimated 13 Jews are murdered and the rest of the Jewish community is banished from Brussels, Belgium, in an anti-Semitic attack, for allegedly desecrating consecrated Host.
An estimated 13 Jews are murdered, and the rest are expelled from Brussels following an anti-Semitic attack accusing them of desecrating a consecrated Host.
- 1377Religion
Pope Gregory XI issues five papal bulls to denounce the doctrines of English theologian John Wycliffe.
Pope Gregory XI issues five papal bulls condemning the teachings of English theologian John Wycliffe.
- 1455UK history
Start of the Wars of the Roses: At the First Battle of St Albans, Richard, Duke of York, defeats and captures King Henry VI of England.
Richard, Duke of York, defeats and captures King Henry VI in the First Battle of St Albans, marking the start of the Wars of the Roses.
- 1520War
The massacre at the festival of Tóxcatl takes place during the Fall of Tenochtitlan, resulting in turning the Aztecs against the Spanish.
Spanish forces under Pedro de Alvarado slaughter Aztec nobles celebrating the Tóxcatl festival in Tenochtitlan, igniting fierce resistance that would seal the conquistadors' temporary expulsion from the city.
- 1629European history
Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II and Danish King Christian IV sign the Treaty of Lübeck ending Danish intervention in the Thirty Years' War.
Ferdinand II and Christian IV sign the Treaty of Lübeck, ending Danish involvement in the Thirty Years' War.
- 1762European history
Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Hamburg.
Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Hamburg, establishing a defensive alliance against Russia.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 22
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 47
Maggie Q
American actress
Maggie Q, known for roles in Mission: Impossible III, Live Free or Die Hard, and the CW series Nikita, turns 46 today.
Born
1979
Turns 47
today
Richard Wagner
German composer
1813 – 1883
Giacomo Matteotti
Italian lawyer and politician
1885 – 1924
Marisol Escobar
French-American sculptor
1930 – 2016
Lyudmila Zhuravleva
Russian-Ukrainian astronomer
b. 1946 · 80
Sean Gunn
American actor
b. 1974 · 52
Novak Djokovic
Serbian tennis player
b. 1987 · 39
Music
The number one songs on May 22
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 22, 1987
First ever Rugby World Cup kicks off with New Zealand playing Italy at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand opens the first Rugby World Cup against Italy at Eden Park.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 22, 1969
Apollo 10's Lunar Module flies within 8.4 nautical miles (16 km) of the Moon's surface.
The Apollo 10 mission's lunar module approaches to within 8.4 nautical miles of the moon's surface during a critical rehearsal for the upcoming moon landing.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Abolition Day (Martinique)
International
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world
Aromanian National Day (marginal, celebration on May 23 is more common)
International
The Aromanian National Day is the national day of the Aromanians, an ethnic group of the Balkans scattered in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia
Harvey Milk Day (California)
International
Harvey Milk Day is organized by the Harvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22, especially in California, in memory of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist who was assassinated in 1978
International Day for Biological Diversity (International)
International
The International Day for Biological Diversity is a United Nations-sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues
United States National Maritime Day
International
National Maritime Day is a United States federal observance created to recognize the maritime industry
National Sovereignty Day (Haiti)
International
The following are public holidays in Haiti