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 30 Saturday, May 30, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 30 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
1966
Politics 60 years ago
Former Congolese Prime Minister, Évariste Kimba, and several other politicians are publicly executed in Kinshasa on the orders of President Joseph Mobutu.
Évariste Kimba, former Congolese Prime Minister, is among several politicians publicly executed in Kinshasa at the order of President Joseph Mobutu.
History
What happened on May 30
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 70War
Siege of Jerusalem: Titus and his Roman legions breach the Second Wall of Jerusalem. Jewish defenders retreat to the First Wall. The Romans build a circumvallation, cutting down all trees within fifteen kilometres (9.3 mi).
Titus and his Roman legions breach Jerusalem's Second Wall, forcing Jewish defenders to retreat behind the First Wall; Romans construct a circumvallation, clearing trees within 15 kilometers.
- 1381UK history
Beginning of the Peasants' Revolt in England.
Led by Wat Tyler, English peasants begin a revolt against oppressive laws and taxes.
- 1431War
Hundred Years' War: In Rouen, France, the 19-year-old Joan of Arc is burned at the stake by an English-dominated tribunal.
Joan of Arc, captured by the English and tried for heresy, is burned at the stake in Rouen.
- 1434War
Hussite Wars: Battle of Lipany: Effectively ending the war, Utraquist forces led by Diviš Bořek of Miletínek defeat and almost annihilate Taborite forces led by Prokop the Great.
Utraquist forces led by Diviš Bořek of Miletínek defeat Taborites led by Prokop the Great at the Battle of Lipany, effectively ending the Hussite Wars.
- 1539US history
In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold.
Hernando de Soto leads 600 soldiers in landing at Tampa Bay, seeking to discover gold.
- 1588War
The last ship of the Spanish Armada sets sail from Lisbon heading for the English Channel.
The final vessel of the Spanish Armada departs Lisbon bound for the English Channel.
- 1631US history
Publication of Gazette de France, the first French newspaper.
The Gazette de France is published, marking the debut of the first French newspaper.
- 1635European history
Thirty Years' War: The Peace of Prague is signed.
The Peace of Prague is signed, marking a significant attempt to end the Thirty Years' War through compromise.
- 1723Pop culture
Johann Sebastian Bach assumed the office of Thomaskantor in Leipzig, presenting his first new cantata, Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, in the St. Nicholas Church on the first Sunday after Trinity.
Johann Sebastian Bach assumed the position of Thomaskantor in Leipzig, presenting his cantata "Die Elenden sollen essen," BWV 75, at St. Nicholas Church.
- 1796War
War of the First Coalition: In the Battle of Borghetto, Napoleon Bonaparte manages to cross the Mincio River against the Austrian army. This crossing forces the Austrians to abandon Lombardy and retreat to the Tyrol, leaving the fortress of Mantua as the sole remaining Austrian stronghold in Northern Italy.
Napoleon Bonaparte crosses the Mincio River at Borghetto, forcing Austrian forces to abandon Lombardy and retreat to the Tyrol, isolating the fortress of Mantua.
- 1876World history
The secret decree of Ems Ukaz, issued by Russian Tsar Alexander II in the German city of Bad Ems, was aimed at stopping the printing and distribution of Ukrainian-language publications in the Russian Empire.
Alexander II issues the Ems Ukaz to ban Ukrainian-language publications in the Russian Empire.
- 1966Politics
Former Congolese Prime Minister, Évariste Kimba, and several other politicians are publicly executed in Kinshasa on the orders of President Joseph Mobutu.
Évariste Kimba, former Congolese Prime Minister, is among several politicians publicly executed in Kinshasa at the order of President Joseph Mobutu.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 30
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 57
Ryuhei Kitamura
Japanese director, producer, and screenwriter
Ryuhei Kitamura, Japanese film director and producer who relocated to Australia at 17 to study visual arts before launching his filmmaking career, turns 57 today.
Born
1969
Turns 57
today
Lenny Davidson
English guitarist and songwriter
b. 1944 · 82
Jake Roberts
American professional wrestler
b. 1955 · 71
Michael López-Alegría
Spanish-American captain, pilot, and astronaut
b. 1958 · 68
Manny Ramirez
Dominican-American baseball player and coach
b. 1972 · 54
Evan Eschmeyer
American basketball player
b. 1975 · 51
Danielle Harold
English actress
b. 1992 · 34
Music
The number one songs on May 30
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 30, 1911
At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the first Indianapolis 500 ends with Ray Harroun in his Marmon Wasp becoming the first winner of the 500-mile auto race.
Ray Harroun wins the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in his Marmon Wasp.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 30, 1971
Mariner program: Mariner 9 is launched to map 70% of the surface, and to study temporal changes in the atmosphere and surface, of Mars.
Mariner 9 launches to map 70 percent of Mars's surface and study its atmospheric and surface changes.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Anguilla Day, commemorates the beginning of the Anguillian Revolution in 1967. (Anguilla)
International
Holidays in Anguilla are predominantly religious holidays, with a number of additional national holidays
Canary Islands Day (Spain)
International
The Day of the Canary Islands is celebrated annually on 30 May
Indian Arrival Day (Trinidad and Tobago)
International
Indian Arrival Day is a public holiday that was first started in Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate the East Indian immigrants arrival to the nation during the indentureship period
Kaamatan, harvest festival in the state of Sabah and the federal territory of Labuan (Malaysia)
International
Kaamatan is a form of harvest festival celebrated on 30 and 31 May annually in the state of Sabah in Malaysia
Lod Massacre Remembrance Day (Puerto Rico)
International
The Lod Airport massacre was an attack that was carried out by the Japanese Red Army on the Lod Airport near Tel Aviv on 30 May 1972
Mother's Day (Nicaragua)
International
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society
❝
Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.
— Johann Sebastian Bach · born May 30, 1685