In History, Today on January 16

Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned as the first Tsar of Russia, marking the beginning of the Tsardom of Russia.

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, abdicated his throne, leading to the division of the Habsburg Empire between his brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II.

The first edition of 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes was published in Madrid, Spain, becoming one of the most influential works of literature.

The Act of Union was ratified by the Parliament of Scotland, leading to the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Prohibition began in the United States as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages.

Adolf Hitler moved into the Führerbunker in Berlin, where he would spend the last months of World War II.

The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, left Iran for exile, marking a pivotal moment in the Iranian Revolution.

The Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, began as coalition forces led by the United States launched air strikes against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

President Laurent-Désiré Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was assassinated by one of his bodyguards in Kinshasa.

The Space Shuttle Columbia launched on its final mission, STS-107, which tragically ended in disaster upon re-entry on February 1, 2003.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in as President of Liberia, becoming Africa's first elected female head of state.

A helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries.

The implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was announced, lifting nuclear-related sanctions on Iran after it was verified that Iran had met its nuclear commitments.