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
November 22 Sunday, November 22, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 22 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
2
Holidays
UK history 105 years ago
During The Troubles in Ulster (1920-1922), 15 Irish Nationalists are killed in Belfast in one day.
Fifteen Irish Nationalists are killed in Belfast during sectarian violence in The Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland.
History
What happened on November 22
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 498Religion
After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Palace, while Laurentius is elected Pope in Santa Maria Maggiore.
Symmachus and Laurentius are simultaneously elected Popes in separate locations, marking a unique schism in the Catholic Church.
- 845European history
The first duke of Brittany, Nominoe, defeats the Frankish king Charles the Bald at the Battle of Ballon near Redon.
Nominoe, the first Duke of Brittany, defeats King Charles the Bald in the Battle of Ballon.
- 1210European history
The Castle of Termes falls to Simon de Montfort after a four-month siege during the Albigensian Crusade.
Simon de Montfort captures the Castle of Termes, ending a four-month siege in the Albigensian Crusade.
- 1220European history
Frederick II is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Rome by Pope Honorius III.
Frederick II receives the imperial crown in Rome from Pope Honorius III, consolidating his rule over the Holy Roman Empire.
- 1307Religion
Pope Clement V issues the papal bull Pastoralis Praeeminentiae which instructed all Christian monarchs in Europe to arrest all Templars and seize their assets.
Pope Clement V issues a papal bull instructing European Christian monarchs to arrest Templars and seize their assets.
- 1574World history
Spanish navigator Juan Fernández discovers islands now known as the Juan Fernández Islands off Chile.
Spanish navigator Juan Fernández discovers a remote Pacific archipelago off the Chilean coast, islands that would later bear his name.
- 1635World history
Dutch colonial forces on Taiwan launch a pacification campaign against native villages, resulting in Dutch control of the middle and south of the island.
Dutch colonial forces begin a campaign that leads to their control over central and southern Taiwan.
- 1718Crime
Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard attacks and boards the vessels of the British pirate Edward Teach (best known as "Blackbeard") off the coast of North Carolina. The casualties on both sides include Maynard's first officer Mister Hyde and Teach himself.
Robert Maynard leads a naval attack that kills pirate Blackbeard off North Carolina, suffering losses including his first officer Mister Hyde.
- 1837Canadian history
Canadian journalist and politician William Lyon Mackenzie calls for a rebellion against the United Kingdom in his essay "To the People of Upper Canada", published in his newspaper The Constitution.
William Lyon Mackenzie publishes "To the People of Upper Canada" in The Constitution, calling for rebellion against the United Kingdom.
- 1855UK history
In Birmingham, England, Albert, Prince Consort lays the foundation stone of the Birmingham and Midland Institute.
Albert, Prince Consort, lays the foundation stone for the Birmingham and Midland Institute in Birmingham.
- 1921UK history
During The Troubles in Ulster (1920-1922), 15 Irish Nationalists are killed in Belfast in one day.
Fifteen Irish Nationalists are killed in Belfast during sectarian violence in The Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland.
- 2014US history
While playing with a toy gun in Cleveland, 12-year-old African American Tamir Rice is killed by a white police officer.
Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African American boy, is shot and killed by a white police officer while playing with a toy gun in Cleveland.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 22
7 this date All birthdays
Thomas Cook
English businessman, founded Thomas Cook Group
Thomas Cook, founder of Thomas Cook & Son and pioneer of modern tourism, was born in 1808 in Derbyshire, England (died 1892).
Born
1808
Died
1892
Elisabeth of France
1602 – 1644
René-Robert Cavelier
Sieur de La Salle, French explorer
1643 – 1687
Ranavalona III of Madagascar
1861 – 1917
Jesse Colin Young
American singer-songwriter and bass player
1941 – 2025
Victor Pelevin
Russian author
b. 1962 · 64
Brian Robbins
American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1963 · 63
Music
The number one songs on November 22
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"The Fate of Ophelia"— Taylor Swift
- 2024"That's So True"— Gracie Abrams
- 2023"Now and Then"— The Beatles
- 2022"Anti-Hero"— Taylor Swift
- 2021"Easy on Me"— Adele
- 2020"Positions"— Ariana Grande
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport November 22, 1986
Mike Tyson becomes youngest heavyweight boxing champion at age 20
Mike Tyson defeats Trevor Berbick by second-round technical knockout in Las Vegas to win the WBC heavyweight title. At 20 years and 4 months, he becomes the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 22, 1955
The Soviet Union launches RDS-37, a 1.6 megaton two stage hydrogen bomb designed by Andrei Sakharov. The bomb was dropped over Semipalatinsk.
The Soviet Union tests the 1.6 megaton RDS-37 hydrogen bomb at Semipalatinsk.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Good Spouses Day (いい夫婦の日) celebrates married couples in Japan.
International
Good Spouses Day is a celebration held in Japan every year on November 22nd
Independence Day celebrates the independence of Lebanon from France in 1943.
International
Lebanese Independence Day is the national day of Lebanon, celebrated on 22 November in commemoration of the end of the French control over Lebanon in 1943, after 23 years of Mandate rule
❝
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
— Martin Luther King Jr. · born November 22, 1929