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April 23
1661. Charles II is crowned King of England. This ends the Interregnum (or English Commonwealth), the 12 year period immediately following the beheading of King Charles I (the new king's father) that ended the English Civil War. During the Interregnum, England was effectively a republic, led by Oliver Cromwell. Following Cromwell's death in 1658 and some internal problems, the Parliament invites Charles back to to restore the monarchy. Charles goes on to do a reasonably decent job as ruler, and is nicknamed the Merry Monarch, a term designed to capture both the relief of Britons over a return to normalcy and the lively and somewhat hedonistic character of Charles II's court. Leaving no legitimate heir, but 12 illegitimate offspring by his numerous mistresses, he is succeeded by his brother, James. Diana, future Princess of Wales can trace her ancestry back to Charles II through two of his illegitimate offspring.
1920. The Turkish Grand National Assembly is formed under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), denouncing the rule of Sultan Mehmet IV and drafting a temporary constitution. This begins the process that will end two years later when the National Assembly abolishes the Sultanate.
1985. Coca-Cola switches to "New Coke", one of the biggest marketing disasters in corporate history. Three months later they switch back to their classic formula, with ABC News' Peter Jennings interrupting regular programming to announce this dramatic event. The resulting dramatic increase in sales -- by year end Coke sales had grown at twice the rate of Pepsi, and Coke had regained its throne as the #1 soda, which it has held ever since -- makes pundits wonder whether Coca-Cola wasn't crazy like a fox all along...
2010. With inauspicious timing given the hoopla over the 2010 NFL draft, Amnorix resurrects this thread after a one year hiatus.
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