September 4: Empires Fall, Toothfish Rise, and Andrew Jackson Brawls

Some days in history quietly file their paperwork and go home. September 4 is not one of those days. This is the day empires collapsed, future presidents got into tavern scraps, and — brace yourself — a fish got its very own holiday. Let's dig in.

The Day Rome Officially Logged Off

Back in 476, Germanic leader Odoacer captured Ravenna and deposed Emperor Romulus Augustus, marking the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Just like that, centuries of togas, aqueducts, and dramatic Senate meetings wrapped up. It's the ancient equivalent of a legendary franchise getting quietly cancelled — no finale, no encore, just a new guy in charge and a lot of confused citizens wondering who to complain to about the roads.

Speaking of chaos, in 1813 future US President Andrew Jackson was shot and severely injured in a tavern brawl with future US Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Two future government heavyweights throwing hands in a bar is possibly the most American origin story imaginable. Networking was rougher in those days.

Happy Birthday to a GOT7 Icon

Born on this day in 1993: Mark Tuan, the American rapper and beloved member of K-pop juggernaut GOT7. Fans across the globe treat September 4 as a semi-national holiday, and honestly, given the devotion involved, we're not going to argue with them.

He shares the date with Belgian footballer Yannick Carrasco, also born in 1993, proving that 1993 was quietly stockpiling talent for the future. If you were born on September 4, congratulations — you're in fast, famous company.

Toothfish Day: The Holiday You Didn't Know You Needed

Yes, it's real. September 4 is Toothfish Day, observed in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. In a world overflowing with awareness weeks and hashtag holidays, there is something deeply refreshing about a celebration dedicated entirely to a fish with a name that sounds like a schoolyard nickname. We salute the toothfish, may it swim proudly and menacingly forever.

Meanwhile, over in Argentina, today marks Immigrant's Day — a warm, genuinely lovely observance honoring the millions who arrived to build new lives. It's a nice reminder that not every September 4 tradition involves collapsing empires or aquatic dentistry.

One Last Curtain Call

And on the literary front, in 1934 Evelyn Waugh's novel A Handful of Dust was first published in full. A biting, brilliant satire that has aged far better than most things that share this date. So whether you're toasting the toothfish, blasting GOT7, or just avoiding tavern brawls, September 4 has something for everyone. History contains multitudes — and apparently, several very specific fish.