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 3 Sunday, May 3, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 3 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
2023
World history 3 years ago
Ethnic violence breaks out between the Meitei and the Kuki Zo people in the state of Manipur.
Ethnic violence erupts between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur, India, displacing tens of thousands and resulting in over 200 deaths.
History
What happened on May 3
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 752World history
Mayan king Bird Jaguar IV of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, Mexico, assumes the throne.
Bird Jaguar IV becomes king of Yaxchilan, a Maya city in what is now Chiapas, Mexico.
- 996European history
German king Otto III chooses his cousin Bruno of Carinthia as pope following the death of Pope John XV. Bruno becomes pope under the name Gregory V.
German king Otto III appoints his cousin Bruno of Carinthia as pope, who takes the name Gregory V and becomes the first German pope.
- 1481Disaster
The largest of three earthquakes strikes the island of Rhodes and causes an estimated 30,000 casualties.
A powerful earthquake strikes Rhodes, resulting in approximately 30,000 deaths.
- 1491World history
Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I.
Nkuwu Nzinga, the Kongo monarch, is baptized by Portuguese missionaries and adopts the name João I.
- 1568US history
Angered by the brutal onslaught of Spanish troops at Fort Caroline, a French force burns the San Mateo fort and massacres hundreds of Spaniards.
A French force retaliates against Spanish troops at Fort Caroline by burning San Mateo and killing hundreds of Spaniards.
- 1616European history
Treaty of Loudun ends a French civil war.
The Treaty of Loudun concludes a conflict between Marie de Médicis and her opponents, ending a period of internal strife in France.
- 1715Science
A total solar eclipse is visible across northern Europe and northern Asia, as predicted by Edmond Halley to within four minutes accuracy.
A total solar eclipse crosses northern Europe and northern Asia, fulfilling Edmond Halley's prediction to within four minutes of accuracy.
- 1791World history
The Constitution of May 3 (the first modern constitution in Europe) is proclaimed by the Sejm of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The Constitution of May 3 is proclaimed by the Sejm, establishing the first modern constitution in Europe.
- 1815War
Neapolitan War: Joachim Murat, King of Naples, is defeated by the Austrians at the Battle of Tolentino, the decisive engagement of the war.
Joachim Murat, King of Naples, is defeated by Austrian forces at the Battle of Tolentino.
- 1848UK history
The boar-crested Anglo-Saxon Benty Grange helmet is discovered in a barrow on the Benty Grange farm in Derbyshire.
A boar-crested Anglo-Saxon helmet from the Benty Grange farm in Derbyshire is unearthed, offering insights into early medieval warfare.
- 1952US history
Lieutenant Colonels Joseph O. Fletcher and William P. Benedict of the United States land a plane at the North Pole.
Lieutenant Colonels Joseph O. Fletcher and William P. Benedict become the first to land an aircraft at the North Pole.
- 2023World history
Ethnic violence breaks out between the Meitei and the Kuki Zo people in the state of Manipur.
Ethnic violence erupts between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur, India, displacing tens of thousands and resulting in over 200 deaths.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 3
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 48
Lawrence Tynes
American football player
Lawrence Tynes, a Scottish-born former NFL placekicker who played college football at Troy and helped the New York Giants win two Super Bowls, turns 47 today.
Born
1978
Turns 48
today
José de la Riva Agüero
Peruvian soldier and politician, 1st President of Peru and 2nd President of North Peru
1783 – 1858
Karl Allmenröder
German soldier and pilot
1896 – 1917
Clara Luper
American civic leader and civil rights activist
1923 – 2011
Věra Čáslavská
Czech gymnast and coach
1942 – 2016
Vicente Saldivar
Mexican boxer
1943 – 1985
Davey Lopes
American baseball player, coach, and manager
b. 1945 · 81
Music
The number one songs on May 3
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Drop Dead"— Olivia Rodrigo
- 2025"Ordinary"— Alex Warren
- 2024"Fortnight"— Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone
- 2023"Wish You the Best"— Lewis Capaldi
- 2022"As It Was"— Harry Styles
- 2021"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport May 3, 1952
The Kentucky Derby is televised nationally for the first time, on the CBS network.
The Kentucky Derby is broadcast nationally on CBS.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 3, 2000
The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet.
Mike Teague hides the first geocache and posts its coordinates online, marking the start of the global treasure-hunting game.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Constitution Memorial Day (Japan)
International
Constitution Memorial Day is a public holiday in Japan
Constitution Day (Poland)
International
3 May Constitution Day is a Polish national and public holiday
Finding of the Holy Cross-related observances: Fiesta de las Cruces (Spain and Hispanic America)
International
The Fiesta de las Cruces or Cruz de Mayo is a holiday celebrated on 3 May in many parts of Spain and Hispanic America
International Sun Day
International
Sun Day was designated by United States President Jimmy Carter, specifically devoted to advocacy for solar power, following a joint resolution by Congress, H
World Press Freedom Day
International
In December 1993, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day, in order to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press
❝
Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.
— Walter Cronkite · born May 3, 1916