![http://www.dean.usma.edu/history/ [dead link] As of July 2016 the image is found at http://www.usma.edu/history/SiteAssets/SitePages/Dawn%20of%20Modern%20Warfare/battle_prague_attempt.gif linked from this webpage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Battle_of_Prague%2C_6_May_1757_-_Attempted_envelopment.png)
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 6 Wednesday, May 6, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 6 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
4
Holidays
War 269 years ago
Battle of Prague: A Prussian army fights an Austrian army in Prague during the Seven Years' War.
A Prussian army under Frederick the Great defeats Austrian forces outside Prague during the Seven Years' War, though the costly victory leads to a prolonged siege of the city.
History
What happened on May 6
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1104European history
King Baldwin I of Jerusalem begins the siege of Acre, then held by the Fatimids.
King Baldwin I of Jerusalem initiates a siege against Acre, then controlled by the Fatimid Caliphate.
- 1527European history
Spanish and German troops sack Rome; many scholars consider this the end of the Renaissance.
Spanish and German troops plunder Rome, marking what many view as the end of the Renaissance.
- 1536War
The Siege of Cuzco commences, in which Incan forces attempt to retake the city of Cuzco from the Spanish.
Incan forces begin a siege to reclaim Cuzco from Spanish control.
- 1659UK history
English Restoration: A faction of the British Army removes Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and reinstalls the Rump Parliament.
The British Army faction removes Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector, reinstalling the Rump Parliament.
- 1682Royalty
Louis XIV of France moves his court to the Palace of Versailles.
Louis XIV relocates his court to the Palace of Versailles, establishing it as the center of French political life.
- 1757War
Battle of Prague: A Prussian army fights an Austrian army in Prague during the Seven Years' War.
A Prussian army under Frederick the Great defeats Austrian forces outside Prague during the Seven Years' War, though the costly victory leads to a prolonged siege of the city.
- 1782World history
Construction begins on the Grand Palace, the royal residence of the King of Siam in Bangkok, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.
Construction begins on the Grand Palace in Bangkok, ordered by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke as the royal residence.
- 1857UK history
The East India Company disbands the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose sepoy Mangal Pandey had earlier revolted against the British in the lead up to the War of Indian Independence.
The East India Company disbanded the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry after its sepoy, Mangal Pandey, revolted against British rule.
- 1877US history
Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Lakota surrenders to United States troops in Nebraska.
Crazy Horse, leader of the Oglala Lakota, surrenders to U.S. troops in Nebraska.
- 1983World history
The Hitler Diaries are revealed as a hoax after being examined by new experts.
Experts reveal the Hitler Diaries as a hoax, debunking their authenticity.
- 1996US history
The body of former CIA director William Colby is found washed up on a riverbank in southern Maryland, eight days after he disappeared.
The body of former CIA director William Colby is discovered on a riverbank in southern Maryland, eight days after his disappearance while canoeing.
- 2004Pop culture
The final episode of the television sitcom Friends is aired.
The series finale of Friends airs, concluding the ten-year run of the popular sitcom.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 6
7 this date All birthdays
Hermann Raster
German-American journalist and politician
Hermann Raster, the German-American journalist and abolitionist who served as chief editor of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung from 1867 to 1891, was born today in 1827.
Born
1827
Died
1891
Bob Seger
American singer-songwriter and guitarist
b. 1945 · 81
Jeffery Deaver
American journalist and author
b. 1950 · 76
Martin Brodeur
Canadian ice hockey player
b. 1972 · 54
Dimitris Diamantidis
Greek professional basketball player
b. 1980 · 46
Chris Paul
American basketball player
b. 1985 · 41
Duncan Scott
Scottish swimmer
b. 1997 · 29
Music
The number one songs on May 6
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 6, 1998
Kerry Wood strikes out 20 Houston Astros to tie the major league record held by Roger Clemens. He threw a one-hitter and did not walk a batter in his fifth career start.
Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros batters, tying Roger Clemens' major league record while throwing a one-hitter without issuing any walks.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 6, 1949
EDSAC, the first practical electronic digital stored-program computer, runs its first operation.
EDSAC completes its first operation at the University of Cambridge.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
4 celebrated today
International No Diet Day
International
International No Diet Day is an annual celebration dedicated to body positivity and the rejection of diet culture
Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria)
International
Martyrs' Day is a Lebanese national holiday commemorating the Syrian and Lebanese Muslim-Christian Arab nationalists executed in Damascus and Beirut on 6 May 1916 by Jamal Pasha, also known as 'Al Jaz
National Azulejo Day (Portugal)
International
Azulejo is a form of Iberian painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework
The first day of Hıdırellez (Turkey)
International
Hıdırellez or Hıdrellez is a folk holiday celebrated as the day on which the prophets Al-Khidr (Hızır) and Elijah (İlyas) met on Earth