This day in history: 16 january

1547: Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) becomes the first Tsar of Russia. Ivan IV was crowned in Moscow, marking the transformation of the Grand Duchy of Moscow into the Tsardom of Russia, a pivotal moment in Russian and Eastern European history.
1556: Philip II becomes King of Spain. This succession cemented Spain’s status as a major European power during the Renaissance and early modern period.
1605: First edition of “Don Quixote” published in Madrid. Miguel de Cervantes’ novel, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, is one of the most influential works in Western literature and was first published on this day in Madrid, Spain.
1707: Scottish Parliament ratifies the Act of Union. This act paved the way for the creation of Great Britain, fundamentally altering the political landscape of Europe.
1716: Nueva Planta decree in Catalonia. King Philip V of Spain abolished Catalan institutions and legal systems, integrating Catalonia into a centralized Spanish state.
1969: Jan Palach’s self-immolation in Prague. Czech student Jan Palach set himself on fire in protest against the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, becoming a symbol of resistance in Eastern Europe.
1944: Eisenhower assumes supreme command of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II, a crucial step in the lead-up to D-Day.
1920: The League of Nations holds its first meeting in Paris, marking a significant milestone in international diplomacy after World War I.

1920: Prohibition begins in the United States. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages nationwide. This era, known as Prohibition, lasted until 1933 when it was repealed by the 21st Amendment.
1865: “Forty acres and a mule” order issued. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 15, which set aside 400,000 acres of land in the South to be divided into 40-acre plots for formerly enslaved Black families. Although later revoked, this order inspired the phrase “forty acres and a mule”.
1991: Operation Desert Storm begins. U.S. President George H.W. Bush announced the start of Operation Desert Storm, the combat phase of the Gulf War, with a U.S.-led coalition launching an air offensive against Iraq to liberate Kuwait.
1935: Fugitive gangster Fred Barker and his mother, “Ma” Barker, were killed in a shootout with the FBI in Florida.
1942: Actress Carole Lombard, her mother, and 20 others died in a plane crash near Las Vegas, Nevada.
1883: The U.S. Civil Service Commission was established, laying the foundation for the modern civil service system.
1970: Baseball player Curt Flood filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Major League Baseball, challenging the reserve clause and paving the way for free agency.
1944: Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower assumed command of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in London, a pivotal moment in World War II.

1630: Birth of Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh Guru, was born on this day. He became the Sikh leader at the age of 14 and guided the community for 17 years, playing a significant role in Sikh history.
1605: Birth of Shahriyar Mirza
Shahriyar Mirza, the youngest son of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was born.
1761: Capture of Pondicherry
During the Seven Years’ War, British forces captured the French colonial settlement of Pondicherry in India.
1886: Birth of Chengannur Raman Pillai
A renowned Kathakali artist from Kerala, India, was born.
1901: Death of Mahadev Govind Ranade
Mahadev Govind Ranade, a prominent Indian scholar, social reformer, and judge, passed away on this day.
1920: Birth of Nani Ardeshir Palkhivala
Nani Palkhivala, an influential Indian jurist and economist, was born.
1927: Birth of Kamini Kaushal
Kamini Kaushal, a well-known Hindi film and television actress, was born.
1938: Death of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
The celebrated Bengali novelist and short story writer died on this day.
1946: Birth of Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi, a prominent Indian film and television actor, was born.
Crowning of Sambhaji
Sambhaji was crowned as the successor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad Fort, a key moment in Maratha history.
1979: The Shah of Iran leaves Iran
Amid mass demonstrations and the Islamic Revolution, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left Iran, marking a turning point in Iranian and Middle Eastern history.

2006: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf becomes Africa’s first elected female head of state.
On this day, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in as President of Liberia, making her the first democratically elected female president on the African continent. She served two terms and became internationally known as “Africa’s Iron Lady” for her leadership and reform efforts.
2012: Outbreak of the Mali War.
The Mali War began when Tuareg militias started fighting the Malian government for independence, marking the start of a major conflict in West Africa.
2016: Terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso.
In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, terrorist attacks targeted a hotel and a nearby restaurant, resulting in 23 deaths and 33 injuries among freed hostages.