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 5 Tuesday, May 5, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 5 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
US history 161 years ago
American Civil War: The Confederate government is declared dissolved at Washington, Georgia.
The Confederate government is officially declared dissolved in Washington, Georgia, marking the formal end of the Confederate States of America.
History
What happened on May 5
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 553Religion
The Second Council of Constantinople begins.
Patriarch Mennas convenes bishops from across the Christian world to condemn the Three Chapters and resolve theological disputes over Christ's nature.
- 1192Royalty
Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem marries Henry II, Count of Champagne.
Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem marries Henry II, Count of Champagne, strengthening alliances between their territories.
- 1215UK history
Rebel barons renounce their allegiance to King John of England, part of a chain of events leading to the signing of the Magna Carta.
Rebel barons renounce allegiance to King John, setting the stage for the Magna Carta.
- 1292European history
Election of Count Adolf of Nassau as King of the Romans in the Dominican monastery of Frankfurt.
Count Adolf of Nassau is elected King of the Romans at the Dominican monastery in Frankfurt, beginning a brief reign that would end with his death in battle six years later.
- 1494World history
On his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus sights Jamaica, landing at Discovery Bay and declares Jamaica the property of the Spanish crown.
Christopher Columbus sights and lands in Jamaica during his second voyage, declaring it a possession of the Spanish crown.
- 1609World history
Daimyō (Lord) Shimazu Tadatsune of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyūshū, Japan, completes his successful invasion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom in Okinawa.
Shimazu Tadatsune completes his invasion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, incorporating Okinawa into Satsuma's domain.
- 1654UK history
Cromwell's Act of Grace, aimed at reconciliation with the Scots, proclaimed in Edinburgh.
Oliver Cromwell proclaims the Act of Grace in Edinburgh, aiming to reconcile with Scotland.
- 1762European history
Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg.
Russia and Prussia sign the Treaty of St. Petersburg, establishing diplomatic relations and trade agreements.
- 1789World history
In France, the Estates-General convenes for the first time since 1614.
The Estates-General convenes in France, marking the beginning of significant political reforms.
- 1821UK history
The first edition of The Manchester Guardian, now The Guardian, is published.
The Manchester Guardian, later renamed The Guardian, publishes its inaugural edition.
- 1865US history
American Civil War: The Confederate government is declared dissolved at Washington, Georgia.
The Confederate government is officially declared dissolved in Washington, Georgia, marking the formal end of the Confederate States of America.
- 1930Disaster
The 1930 Bago earthquake, the first of two major earthquakes in southern Burma, kills as many as 7,000 in Yangon and Bago.
A powerful earthquake strikes southern Burma, killing up to 7,000 people in Yangon and Bago.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 5
7 this date All birthdays
Leopold II
Holy Roman Emperor
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792 and son of Empress Maria Theresa, was born today in 1747 and became known for his enlightened reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty and torture in Tuscany.
Born
1747
Died
1792
Jean-Frédéric Edelmann
French pianist and composer
1749 – 1794
Thomas Bavin
New Zealand-Australian politician, 24th Premier of New South Wales
1874 – 1941
Archibald Wavell
1st Earl Wavell, English general and politician, 43rd Governor-General of India
1883 – 1950
Helen Redfield
American geneticist
1900 – 1988
Meb Keflezighi
American runner
b. 1975 · 51
Nathan Chen
American figure skater
b. 1999 · 27
Music
The number one songs on May 5
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"Miracle"— Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
- 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 5, 1973
Secretariat wins the 1973 Kentucky Derby in 1:59.4, an as-yet-unbeaten record.
Secretariat sets a record time of 1:59.4 in the Kentucky Derby, a mark that remains unbeaten.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 5, 1961
Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space aboard Freedom 7
Shepard's suborbital flight lasted 15 minutes and reached an altitude of 116 miles, making him the second human in space after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's orbital flight three weeks earlier.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Children's Day (Japan, South Korea)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Cinco de Mayo (Mexico, United States)
International
Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza
Constitution Day (Kyrgyzstan)
International
Constitution Day is a holiday to honour the constitution of a country
Europe Day (Council of Europe)
International
Europe Day is a day celebrating "peace and unity in Europe" celebrated on 5 May by the Council of Europe and on 9 May by the European Union
Indian Arrival Day (Guyana)
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
International Midwives' Day (International)
International
The International Day of the Midwife is annually celebrated on 5 May, and was established in 1992 by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to celebrate and raise awareness about the midwif
❝
The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else.
— Frédéric Bastiat · born May 5, 1801