1613 - Mikhail I Fyodorovich Romanov becomes Tsar of Russia.
1977 - The Soviet Union launches Soyuz 24.
1990 - Collapse of the Soviet Union: The Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agrees to give up its monopoly of power.
1920 - Death of Aleksandr Vasilevich Kolchak, Russian military commander.
Isn't it funny that the first and second dates should be so connected.