A Brief history
On January 30, 1661, Oliver Cromwell, former Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, was removed from his grave and “executed” 2 years after his death!
Digging Deeper
Digging deeper, we find Cromwell the ultimate winner of the English Civil War, having deposed the monarchy and becoming the de facto ruler of Britain.
After leading the anti-royalist forces known as the Roundheads against the forces of King Charles I, known as the Cavaliers, Cromwell was among those who decided Charles I should be executed after his defeat.
Charles I was executed in 1649.
Cromwell was a prominent player in British politics and was eventually made Lord Protector for life, though many of his detractors prefer viewing him as a dictator. He did have numerous admirers, however, and he remains a revered part of British history to many.
Oliver Cromwell died of natural causes in 1658 at age 59, possibly of infection related to kidney or bladder stones. He was buried with honors, and his son succeeded him as Lord Protector, ironically resembling a new monarchy!
Change had again come to Britain, and Cromwell’s son was deposed within a year, and Charles II (son of the executed Charles I) became king in the restored monarchy. Cromwell’s body was dug up, hung in chains and then beheaded, officially executing him for treason! His head was displayed on a spike in the manner of the day and his body disposed of in a pit. The “execution” took place exactly 12 years after the execution of Charles I.
Then the conspiracy theories started! Stories of Cromwell’s body having been relocated to avoid just this sort of indignity abounded, with claims that a different body was “executed” by proxy. Likewise, the whereabouts of Cromwell’s severed head remains controversial, with the official version being his head was buried on the grounds of Sidney Sussex College – in 1960!
Question for students (and subscribers): Was Cromwell a hero or a villain? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Drinkwater, John. Oliver Cromwell. 2011.
Fraser, Antonia. Cromwell. Grove Press, 2007.
Gentles, Ian. Oliver Cromwell: God’s Warrior and the English Revolution (British History in Perspective). Palgrave, 2011.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1105 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=1105">125 Comments
Obviously, Charles II wanted revenge for the execution of Charles I. Cromwell was dedicated to England and was trying to give it his all for his country. Charles I and II were probably just jealous of Cromwell’s reign and did not like to have their authority challenged.
I agree that Charles II wanted to avenge his father’s death, it was just odd the way he went about it. It seemed like it was just a struggle for power between Charles and Cromwell. It is rather contradictory that Cromwell fought for the Parliament but than later dismissed them.
I feel that Charles II wanted to get revenge for the death of his father. Instead of what I would think would be a more logical thing would be to execute Cromwell’s son to get the revenge but instead he had the odd idea to dig up the already dead Cromwell and execute him formally.
I think that for Charles II to get the point of severity of Cromwell’s treason across to the people he had to use Cromwell’s own body. I don’t think it was just about revenge, but also to denounce Cromwell’s fame and status with the people.
I think that Charles II definitely wanted revenge. Considering the timing and everything it makes sense that it was to avenge the death of his father. I think that it was revenge and a way to get rid of the fame that is associated with Cromwell’s name. One thing that I don’t understand is, why didn’t he just kill Cromwell’s son?
I also definitely think that Charles II wanted to avenge his fathers death. It does seem extremely strange the way he took revenge, but it’s pretty obvious that he was very bitter towards Cromwell if he found it necessary to dig up his body and have him beheaded!
Charles II as revenge but I also think it was a big power trip for him too.
I agree that Charles II wanted revenge for his fathers death, and wanted to feel more powerful. Jealousy makes people do odd things.
Astonishing
OK so he wanted revenge but can you really consider it a win or a punishment when the person is already dead. Just a little weird.
This event just shows how superstitious people were back during this period in history. It was common occurrence/belief that a suicide victim would have their head cut off so they would, “be lost in hell.” I figure this is what they were going for.
Yeah I wouldn’t call it a win if the person was dead, it already states if you commit suicide you’ll go to hell so why bother cutting the head off?
i agree he wanted revenge for his fathers death but i wouldnt call it a win
Since Cromwell was revered by his people at the time, it makes sense that Charles II would execute the already deceased Cromwell instead of his son to show that the monarchy he overthrew was now back in power and anyone who would try and follow in Cromwell’s footsteps would meet the same fate. The fact that his severed head wasn’t located until 1960 is crazy.
In my opinion that was a little bit of an extreme for getting revenge, and quite odd as well seeing as he was already dead.
I agree it was extreme, however it wasn’t shocking. People do some crazy things when they have revenge on their mind.
This is not only extreme it is gross. How can you kill an already dead person. it was disrespect and revolting.
Highland justice
I do not get why someone would dig up a dead body to execute it? He was already dead. Unless there were still supporters and the new government could not handle them, I do not see the point. Seems like just a little to much.
That is terrible! re executed?? how is that even possible
People are sick. Digging up a dead body just because the person had ‘unfinished business’.
Musta been a boring town for them to have all the time and effort to go through a reexecution
people had very strange believes back then. So much for Rest in peace
I think that is really gross but that was the way things were done back then. Not to mention, how decomposed was his body at the time they dug him up? Ew!
I learned n At of Theatre the Puritans were like bible thumping nut jobs. The that the simplest things to be sensual, like theatre and art. I thought I remember something about some aire to the throne expecting to France during the Puritans rain?
I hope the spiked head proved the point…I don’t know what would after that…
Even though Cromwell took compromise as a “Blood must be shed” type of attitude, he still did not not deserve to have his head on a pike. In fact, it hurts everyone because all the people have to see it too. I know I would feel uncomfortable seeing it.
this was a different time and they went about proving their points differently and i would think that a head on a pike would prove a point
I never heard of executing a person twice when the one time he is already dead. Makes no sense to me.
This whole idea just strikes me as weird and obscure. If someone had already died, why would someone go through all the effort to retrieve their body and “execute” them? Maybe I don’t understand because times have changed, but this is just illogical.
Seems pretty stupid on England’s part to dig up a dead body that probably smelled awful and was decomposed and cut off its head. Maybe just having a public gathering to bash him would’ve sufficed.
I mean, was it really his head on a pike, or was it a decomposed mess of skull and hair that may or may not have been Cromwell? At what point is enough, enough?
I guess the king just wanted to add insult to injury for Oliver Cromwell. Also ther are always conspiricy theories.
I knew a Cromwell once…
Interesting that they would go through the trouble of digging him up just for a beheading.
The process of digging him out and executing him seems very excessive and kind of counterintuitive but I guess for symbolic reasons I can understand the meaning. It is interesting that although he defeated the bad Charles I, he kind of kept the same power dynamic going (him holding most if not all of the power). The fact that he is revered by some but hated by others is an interesting dilemma that kind of makes sense when all the pieces are put together.
If he was already dead was he really executed? I see the point but it doesn’t seem to really make sense because done must be alive to be executed and killed.
Wow, I just keep hearing that man say his blood is red. No kidding. Displaying Cromwell’s head on a spike seems pretty extreme to me. Thankful I didn’t live during those times.
Dang,I guess death wasn’t enough? I find it also ironic that Cromwell became what he hated in Charles the first: an unruly leader with self-interest.
Having learned so much about this time period and Europe as a whole, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am so so happy that I wasn’t alive back then. It was a pretty cruel, and brutal place. Cromwell had a pretty rough “after life” and he was trying to be a decent person.
So how exactly did Cromwell obtain all of this power? Nonetheless he must’ve had some touch if he could overthrow the King of England.
rather bizarre story
NICE
Cromwell… Even the name leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Being that im a catholic, he isnt exactly my favorite historical person.
I had never heard of something like this before. It takes revenge to a new level! — DAVID WARDLE
I loved this. I thought it was a very interesting punishment. Even with out any physical harm being done to Cromwell, this ruined his name in history.
I find it funny that he fought so hard to abolish the monarchy then pretty mush reestablished it with himself.
Executing him twice seems ridiculous… he is obviously already dead.
Power seems to corrupt everyone. Even someone who fought to abolish the ones with it.
Seems like a waste of time to bother digging up a dead man just to “execute” him.
Executing a guy for treason who is already dead might be the most creative punishment in history.
Obviously the “execution” of Cromwell was symbolic in nature, not practical.
Please excuse the pun, but to excavate, hang his body upside down and behead him seems a bit like overkill to me!!!
executing a dead man seems to be an interesting use of time
I wonder how much treasure went to paying the executioner and others associated with this tomfoolery.
This British civil war is very interesting to me, Sir Thomas Lucas (a Royalist) is a Great x7 or so uncle of mine
it seems rather pointless to do all of these things to him postmortem. I understand it was to prove a point but it seems like a waste of time.
It seems like Just a rotation of bad leaders. They fought to change the way England was ruled yet only went back to the way it was before.
Wow. What kind of crazy people back them. I think Its a little absurd that you would dig someone dead up to execute them.
His son already was given power if you think about it. He was the son of the leader before him. So it was a good cause to grant his son the leader of England. Once he had that power I think he took advantage of it by beheading Cromwell who had executed his father.
Jokes on them since they took the time to dig up his body and then “execute” him. He was already dead so all these seemed to do was waste their own time.
Wow what a great way to waste everyones time symbolic or not
If they hated him enough to dig up his grave to “execute” him then why wouldn’t they know what he really looked like? It doesn’t make a lot of sense that they so easily had mistaken a different body for his.
They sure showed that dead guy.
Seems like a waste of time to kill someone who was already dead.
I don’t know what doing that to a dead guy would do
Killing someone who is already dead? Sounds a little uncalled for. Who does that to someone?
Executing him after his death is the epitome of arrogance.
It doesn’t seem to be very effective to “kill” someone after they are already dead.
Completely pointless and a waste of time. Completely fails at displaying a message.
i am confused at the point of killing somebody after they are already dead. what point is there to prove? maybe to embarrass the dead? the family watching? i have no idea. just a thought.
These seems dumb and idiotic what does this prove
I don’t understand the point of killing someone who is already dead.
After reading the first sentence of this I did not want to continue. It seems to be a lot of effort and and it is quite disturbing.
I do not see much of a point in killing someone who is already dead, as many other commenters have pointed out. My only guess would be that this act helped demonstrate great power for those that beheaded him.
It is disturbing that they would behead him even though he was already dead. I am sure they wanted to do this to show people what would happen if they too committed treason and to also show a sense of power over the already dead Lord.
It really does show how polarized peoples views can be. Some loved this man enough to make him their pseudo king. Others felt strongly enough to behead him after the man had already died.
It doesn’t make sense that you would dig someone up just to “execute” them publicly. It must have just been a sign of power and ultimate revenge for Charles II to get to execute his father’s executor.
I remember learning about the English Civil War in my English class. I think whats interesting about this is that Cromwell led people in a revolt against the Royalists and then executed the monarch of the time, King Charles I. Then, he replaces him as a “king” in a sense. It just seems hypocritical. I think that digging up Cromwell’s grave and “executing” him was to make a statement by Charles II that Cromwell was never the true ruler.
This is an example of how far we have come as a country and world. The way of killing someone now is more civilized and you could not chop someone’s head off and just stick it on a spike for a couple of months and display it to the city. Even with power now this could never happen.
I don’t understand how there could be controversy over whether Cromwell’s body was actually his body. You would think that even if there is some decomposition that the body would have some indication (like clothing) that it was Cromwell.
The article mentioned that Cromwell was buried with “honors”. If this was the case, then surely Cromwell would have been buried with luxurious clothes and other earthly possessions. There should not be any doubt about whether or not the body was Cromwell.
This is one of those stories and history that just makes you say “they did what?!” The fact that Charles II dug up a dead guy to behead him just to make a point speaks to how precarious the monarchy’s must have been. I can’t imagine an American president for example, digging up a past enemy just to maim their dead body to make a point! How absurd!
Even if the conspiracy theories are true and Cromwell’s body was not the one which was “executed”, this story is still disrespectful towards the dead body of a human being. What is the point of digging someone up and “kill” again their dead body? The only reason I think Charles II did it was to show how powerful he was and to take “revenge” for his father’s execution.
This is truly ridiculous to me, and I think sheds some light as to the nature of politics at the time. Clearly, this decision by Charles II was made to appease the people, and as a show of strength as he retook the monarchy from Cromwell’s son. The fact that people would have been moved by such a display makes me think that it was a much more brutal time, and being in power was much more precarious.
This story shows how significant the punishment of execution used to be. It was a sign of power, and in this case, to show that power in the restored monarchy. The show of power was so significant that the dead body of Oliver Cromwell was dug up, and then the body went through the execution process.
This story is strange. Taking a body from the grave and hanging it then chopping the head off has to be one of the most bizarre occurrences in history. I can understand for the people having a strong hate against Cromwell but I do not understand what type of fulfillment they would receive from executing him after death. Also, if the people really wanted something like this to happen it seems more odd that they waited twelve years to do it.
This is one of those times when people in all their excitement and emotion, tend to take things a little too far. Even if the man did overthrow your father of the throne, what good would have come out of this act? It is just disrespectful to a longtime deceased man, and in the end, an Englishman who wanted the best for his country.
Hanging a man’s dead body up by chains and decapitating it seems unnecessary to me. I wonder if more was going on that they were trying to hide by doing this. I would love to hear conspiracy theories for this topic.
May have gone too far by digging up the body and cutting off the head. Already won so why go over board and do that? Clearly a move to show power and for people to realize he should not be messed with.
Being executed two years after death is a new one for me. I’ve never heard of this happening before now. Because Cromwell executed Charles I it must have seemed only fair to Charles II that Cromwell be executed as well. I think it could have been more of a statement that this man should be looked at as someone who committed treason and not someone to be revered instead of just based on revenge.
I cannot believe they went back and dug up his body and cut off his head. It seems like a little much to me to do this to a dead body, especially after being dead for two years. These people seem to be crazy to me…
This does not make much sense to me. For them to go back and behead an already deceased man is a little absurd. There seems to be no point in doing so when the man had already been deceased for two years.
I feel like these type of stories happened a lot back then. Something so unnecessary, but done to show power over someone.
I think it is extremely unnecessary to execute someone who was already dead and buried. Just so strange to put so much effort into someone who hasn’t done literally anything in 2 years.
This is certainly one way to send a powerful message to start your reign as king.
Very interesting story. Imagine the uproar if a story like this were to happen in this lifetime?
Does the body even stay intact enough after two years to still be able to hang it? It seems that Charles II had every intention to avenge his father in an “eye for an eye” style, what a crazy story!
It is crazy to believe that enemy leaders would be executed if they lost a fight. In today’s world you rarely see that.
Wouldn’t a body be decomposed in 2 years? It’s not like they had modern funeral procedures like embalming and vaults and steel caskets. At that point its just pure wrong to dig a man up from his grave and mutilate his body after his death.
why waste time to behead a dead corpse and after so many year wont the body be decomposed by than. but very interesting of a story.
This was quite surprising to me. I almost feel like they wasted time to go dig up a body to hang it and behead the body after it had already been buried for 2 years. Don’t they have other things to worry about instead of someone already dead?
I believe it was pointless and a waste of energy. If it was true that they did this.
It is truly amazing how hate can fuel people to do things that are despicable. Their effort was more for a political statement… other than that it was pointless.
Was the symbolism REALLY that important??
This makes absolutely no sense to me at all. The man had already been dead for two years.
Honestly the way h died had to be of unsanitary causes and eating problems because the food we eat today, causes much cancers.
When someone is barried they are said to “rest in peace”, yet the King had the audacity to dig him back up and behead an already dead body. I do not understand the point to doing this, making the reformed monarch official?
Hate is a very strong emotion and I guess it can even push someone to the extreme of beheading someone after they had already been dead.
Given the time period this occurred in, I feel that “executing” his body was an important symbol in their culture. Was it unsanitary? Yes, of course it was. However, there were many other rituals and customs people had in this time period that were equally disgusting.
Were his “admirers” made out of fear? Or did he actually do things that they appreciated?
Why would they want his head so bad? Especially when he’s already dead and buried.
I don’t see the reason why they would dig up his grave just to execute him because he’s already dead. There’s just no point to it.
Seems a little dramatic but they really must have hated this man.
So, they dug up Cromwell’s body because he committed treason, did they forget he died? His death wasn’t good enough to just leave him be.
HAHAHA, even though he is dead that’s not enough, lets kill him again. let alone that it is two years later and he is severely decomposed. I wonder how the body didn’t just fall apart during the execution. This brings true meaning to “it’s the thought that counts.”
Cromwell stood up for what he believed in, he is a very smart man.
I feel like what king Charles II did was basically like beating a dead horse. There was basically no reason to do what he did, but he did it in memory of his father. TREASON!!
People hold grudges, and powerful people hold powerful grudges. History is full of such tales.
Everyone I think should stand up for something they believe in, and he did.
I agree with Jarrett, digging Cromwell up to “kill” him when he was already dead is redundant but he must’ve been a hated man.
As one digs through History, one finds numerous examples of people being, shall we say, goofy?
Digging up a dead man and executing him is rather strange, but what’s odd is that no one knows what happened to the body or the head. Imagine going to Sydney Sussex College and accidentally discovering the head of Cromwell buried on campus!
It’s a little strange to think that those people dug up someones dead body and executed them after they have already been dead for two years….
You can never be too sure…