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 9 Saturday, May 9, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on May 9 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
6
Holidays
1009
European history 1017 years ago
Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy.
Lombard forces led by Melus launch a revolt in Bari against Byzantine rule in southern Italy.
History
What happened on May 9
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 328Religion
Athanasius is elected Patriarch of Alexandria.
Athanasius becomes Patriarch of Alexandria, beginning a turbulent tenure marked by five exiles and fierce defense of Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism.
- 1009European history
Lombard Revolt: Lombard forces led by Melus revolt in Bari against the Byzantine Catepanate of Italy.
Lombard forces led by Melus launch a revolt in Bari against Byzantine rule in southern Italy.
- 1310Religion
Nephon, Bishop of Cyzicus, is consecrated as Patriarch of Constantinople.
Nephon, Bishop of Cyzicus, is consecrated as Patriarch of Constantinople, succeeding John XII Cosmas.
- 1386UK history
England and Portugal formally ratify their alliance with the signing of the Treaty of Windsor, making it the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world which is still in force.
England and Portugal formalize their alliance with the Treaty of Windsor, creating the longest-standing diplomatic relationship still active today.
- 1450World history
Timurid monarch 'Abd al-Latif is assassinated.
'Abd al-Latif, ruler of the Timurid Empire, is killed by a group of conspirators.
- 1502World history
Christopher Columbus sets off from Cádiz for his fourth voyage.
Christopher Columbus departs from Cádiz to begin his final voyage across the Atlantic.
- 1540US history
Hernando de Alarcón sets sail on an expedition to the Gulf of California.
Hernando de Alarcón sets sail from Navidad with ships bound for the Gulf of California.
- 1645UK history
Scottish Royalist forces under Lord Montrose defeat Covenanter forces under John Urry.
Lord Montrose leads a Royalist victory over Covenanter forces at the Battle of Aberdeen.
- 1662Culture
The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England.
A puppet character known as Mr. Punch appears for the first time in London, marking the start of a long-standing British tradition.
- 1726Crime
Five men arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London are executed at Tyburn.
Five men are executed at Tyburn after being arrested during a raid on Mother Clap's molly house in London.
- 1761UK history
Exhibition of 1761, the inaugural exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, opens at Spring Gardens in London.
The Society of Artists of Great Britain holds its first exhibition at Spring Gardens in London.
- 1877Politics
Mihail Kogălniceanu reads, in the Chamber of Deputies, the Declaration of Independence of Romania. The date will become recognised as the Independence Day of Romania.
Mihail Kogălniceanu reads the Declaration of Independence in the Chamber of Deputies, establishing July 11 as Romania's Independence Day.
Born today
Famous birthdays on May 9
7 this date All birthdays
Tony Gwynn
American baseball player and coach
Tony Gwynn, nicknamed "Mr. Padre," was born in 1960, an American professional baseball right fielder who spent his entire 20-year career with the San Diego Padres, winning eight batting titles.
Born
1960
Died
2014
Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood
English politician, founded the town of Fleetwood
1801 – 1866
Henry J. Kaiser
American shipbuilder and businessman, founded Kaiser Shipyards
1882 – 1967
J. Merrill Knapp
American musicologist
1914 – 1993
Tamia
Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress
b. 1975 · 51
Rosario Dawson
American actress
b. 1979 · 47
Beth Mead
English footballer
b. 1995 · 31
Music
The number one songs on May 9
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"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)"— Lil Nas X
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport May 9, 2001
In Ghana, 129 football fans die in what became known as the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. The deaths are caused by a stampede (caused by the firing of tear gas by police personnel at the stadium) that followed a controversial decision by the referee.
A stampede following the firing of tear gas by police leads to the deaths of 129 football fans at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Read the story
🔬 Science May 9, 1960
The Food and Drug Administration announces it will approve birth control as an additional indication for Searle's Enovid, making Enovid the world's first approved oral contraceptive pill.
The FDA announces it will approve Enovid as the world’s first oral contraceptive pill.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
6 celebrated today
Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: Liberation Day, commemorating the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. (Guernsey and Jersey)
International
Liberation Day is the national day of both Guernsey and Jersey, the two largest of the Channel Islands, which takes place on 9 May each year
Commemoration of the end of the German occupation of the Channel Islands related observances: National Day (Alderney)
International
A national day is a day on which celebrations mark the statehood or nationhood of a state or its people
Europe Day, commemorating the Schuman Declaration. (European Union, Kosovo, Moldova, Ukraine)
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
Victory Day observances, celebration of the Soviet Union victory over Nazi Germany (Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) Victory and Peace Day, marks the capture of Shusha (1992) in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the end of World War II. (Armenia)
International
Victory Day is a holiday that commemorates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945
Home Front Heroes Day in the United States (proposed; locally observed in Dallas, Texas)
International
Home Front Heroes Day is observed on May 9 to acknowledge and honor the contributions of individuals on the home front, past and present, for their support, work and sacrifices at home during the serv
Goku Day (Japan), commemorating the fictional character Goku.
International
Japan is an island country in East Asia
❝
You can't win if nobody catches the ball in the outfield. You're only as good as the team you have behind you.
— Tony Gwynn · born May 9, 1960