January 16th


1412: The Medici family is appointed official banker of the Papacy. In return, the Popes get a toaster and free ATM's.


1547: Ivan the Terrible becomes Tsar of Russia. Ivan spends most of his reign trying to get a better publicist.


1777: Vermont declares its independence from New York. 200 years later, New York sends its revenge in the forms of Howard Dean and Bernie Sanders.