The Bizarre Post-Death Desecration of England’s Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell
When hated political corpses are disturbingly not left to rest in peace
Oliver Cromwell is one of the most controversial figures in English history. As Lord Protector (military dictator) of England during the mid-17th century, he rose to power through a civil war that resulted in the beheading of King Charles I. But it was what happened after Cromwell’s own death that was truly bizarre — his corpse was dug up and “executed” as a form of posthumous revenge.
From Country Gentleman to Military Dictator
Cromwell was born in 1599 to minor gentry in Huntingdon, England. After briefly attending Cambridge University, he returned home to live a quiet country life. But when civil war erupted in England in 1642, Cromwell seized the chance to raise troops and join the Parliamentary forces against the royalists.
Despite no prior military experience, Cromwell proved a talented cavalry commander. His disciplined New Model Army defeated King Charles I, leading to the monarch’s capture and eventual execution for…
