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 23 Saturday, May 23, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 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
5
Holidays
1706
UK history 320 years ago
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies.
History
What happened on May 23
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1040War
The Seljuks defeat the Ghaznavids in the battle of Dandanaqan.
The Seljuks defeat the Ghaznavids at the Battle of Dandanaqan, establishing Seljuk dominance in Central Asia.
- 1308War
Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, defeats John Comyn, earl of Buchan, decisively in the battle of Inverurie.
Robert the Bruce defeats John Comyn at the Battle of Inverurie, securing his position as a leading contender for the Scottish throne.
- 1430Royalty
Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction.
Joan of Arc is captured by Burgundian forces during the Siege of Compiègne.
- 1498Religion
Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy.
Girolamo Savonarola is executed by burning at the stake in Florence.
- 1533Royalty
The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void.
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, annuls the marriage between King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
- 1568War
Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau defeat Jean de Ligne and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War.
Dutch rebels under Louis of Nassau defeat Jean de Ligne's forces at Heiligerlee, marking the start of the Eighty Years' War.
- 1609US history
Official ratification of the Second Virginia Charter takes place.
The Second Virginia Charter is officially ratified, establishing legal governance for the colony.
- 1618War
The Third Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years' War.
Catholic nobles hurl three Protestant royal officials from a window in Prague Castle, igniting the Thirty Years' War.
- 1706UK history
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies.
- 1788US history
South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the eighth state to join the union.
- 1873US history
The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
- 1945WWII
World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when its members are arrested by British forces.
Karl Dönitz's Flensburg Government is dissolved as its members are arrested by British forces.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 23
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 60
H. Jon Benjamin
American actor, comedian, writer, and producer
H. Jon Benjamin, the voice behind Sterling Archer in Archer and Bob Belcher in Bob's Burgers, turns 59 today.
Born
1966
Turns 60
today
Annemarie Schwarzenbach
Swiss author and photographer
1908 – 1942
Ove Fundin
Swedish motorcycle racer
b. 1933 · 93
Antonis Samaras
Greek economist and politician, 185th Prime Minister of Greece
b. 1951 · 75
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
American boxer and actor
1954 – 2021
Melissa McBride
American actress
b. 1965 · 61
Lena Meyer-Landrut
German singer-songwriter
b. 1991 · 35
Music
The number one songs on May 23
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 23, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 23, 2010
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on its maiden flight from Cape Canaveral
The successful debut of the Falcon 9 marked a milestone for commercial spaceflight, demonstrating SpaceX's capability to develop orbital-class launch vehicles. The rocket carried a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit into low Earth orbit.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Aromanian National Day
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
Constitution Day (Germany)
International
Constitution Day is a holiday to honour the constitution of a country
Labour Day (Jamaica)
International
Labour Day is an official public holiday in many countries
Students' Day (Mexico)
International
In Mexico, there are three major kinds of public holidays:Statutory holiday: holidays observed all around Mexico
World Turtle Day
International
World Turtle Day is an annual observance held every May 23rd
❝
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
— John Muir · born May 23, 1838