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 28 Thursday, May 28, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 28 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
European history 679 years ago
Marriage of Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos and Helena Kantakouzene.
Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos marries Helena Kantakouzene, uniting two powerful imperial families during a period of civil war and dynastic struggle.
History
What happened on May 28
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -585Science
A solar eclipse occurs, as predicted by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares in the Battle of the Eclipse, leading to a truce. This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated. It is also the earliest event of which the precise date is known.
Thales predicts a solar eclipse during the Battle of the Eclipse, leading to a truce and establishing one of history's most precise dated events.
- 621World history
Battle of Hulao: Li Shimin, the son of the Chinese emperor Gaozu, defeats the numerically superior forces of Dou Jiande near the Hulao Pass (Henan). This victory decides the outcome of the civil war that followed the Sui dynasty's collapse in favour of the Tang dynasty.
Li Shimin defeats Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass, securing victory for the Tang dynasty over the collapsing Sui.
- 934UK history
English king Æthelstan begins his invasion of Scotland with.
Æthelstan invades Scotland, leading a combined land and naval force in one of the most ambitious military campaigns of his reign.
- 1242European history
Avignonet massacre: A group of Cathars, with the probable connivance of Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, murdered the inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven of his companions.
A group of Cathars murders inquisitor William Arnaud and eleven companions in Avignonet.
- 1347European history
Marriage of Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos and Helena Kantakouzene.
Byzantine Emperor John V Palaiologos marries Helena Kantakouzene, uniting two powerful imperial families during a period of civil war and dynastic struggle.
- 1533Religion
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declares the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn valid.
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, declares King Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn valid, finalizing the break with Rome.
- 1588War
The Spanish Armada, with 130 ships and 30,000 men, sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, heading for the English Channel. (It will take until May 30 for all ships to leave port.)
The Spanish Armada, comprising 130 ships and 30,000 men, begins its journey from Lisbon, Portugal, bound for the English Channel.
- 1644War
English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.
Royalist troops under James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, massacre civilians in Bolton.
- 1754US history
French and Indian War: In the first engagement of the war, Virginia militia under the 22-year-old Lieutenant colonel George Washington defeat a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen in what is now Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania.
George Washington leads Virginia militia to victory against a French reconnaissance party in the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
- 1871European history
The Paris Commune falls after two months.
Government forces suppress the Paris Commune, ending a two-month revolutionary period in Paris.
- 1892Science
In San Francisco, John Muir organizes the Sierra Club.
John Muir founds the Sierra Club in San Francisco to protect America's wilderness.
- 1974UK history
Northern Ireland's power-sharing Sunningdale Agreement collapses following a general strike by loyalists.
The Sunningdale Agreement in Northern Ireland collapses due to a loyalist general strike.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 28
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 82
Rudy Giuliani
American lawyer and politician, 107th mayor of New York City
Rudolph Giuliani, who served as the 108th mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001 and previously as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, turns 82 today.
Born
1944
Turns 82
today
Thomas Moore
Irish poet and composer
1779 – 1852
Tony Pastor
American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner
1837 – 1908
N. T. Rama Rao
Indian actor, director, producer, and politician, 10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
1923 – 1996
Jerry West
American basketball player, coach, and executive
1938 – 2024
Glen Rice
American basketball player
b. 1967 · 59
Percy Harvin
American football player
b. 1988 · 38
Music
The number one songs on May 28
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 28, 2017
Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato wins his first Indianapolis 500, the first Japanese and Asian driver to do so. Double world champion Fernando Alonso retires from an engine issue in his first entry of the event.
Takuma Sato becomes the first Japanese and Asian driver to win the Indianapolis 500, while Fernando Alonso retires due to an engine issue.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 28, 1959
NASA launches two monkeys, Able and Baker, into space aboard a Jupiter rocket
The rhesus monkey Able and squirrel monkey Baker became the first monkeys to survive spaceflight, reaching an altitude of 360 miles during a suborbital flight. Both were successfully recovered, though Able died days later from anesthesia complications during an electrode removal procedure.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Armed Forces Day (Croatia)
International
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the arm
Downfall of the Derg (Ethiopia)
International
The Downfall of the Derg is a national holiday in Ethiopia celebrated on 28 May in commemoration of the fall of communist military junta Derg by the rebel coalition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary De
Flag Day (Philippines)
International
Public holidays in the Philippines are of two types: regular holidays and special non-working days
Menstrual Hygiene Day
International
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level
Republic Day (Nepal)
International
Republic Day is a national holiday in Nepal
TDFR Republic Day, celebrates the declaration of independence of the First Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic in 1918. (Azerbaijan and Armenia)
International
The Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic was a short-lived state in the Caucasus that included most of the territory of the present-day Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as parts of Ru
❝
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
— John Muir · born May 28, 1838