English Lord Protector. He was an English general, statesman, and Puritan leader during the English Civil War. When he defeated Charles I, he had the king executed in 1649 and became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1653. This was the only time in English history that the monarchy had been ousted. He died of natural causes in 1658 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. In 1660 the monarchy was restored by Charles II, the son of Charles I. On January 30, 1661, the anniversary of the execution of Charles I, Cromwell's body was exhumed and taken by sleigh through snow to Tyburn. The procession was greeted by the sounds of outcry and curses from the people. The corpse was hanged from the gallows for a day, and by that evening, the body was buried beneath the gibbet. His head was taken to Westminster Hall, where it was exhibited on a pole until near the end of Charles II's reign in 1685. His head passed through many hands before coming into the care of Sydney Sussex College in 1960. There is a marker at each burial site.
English Lord Protector. He was an English general, statesman, and Puritan leader during the English Civil War. When he defeated Charles I, he had the king executed in 1649 and became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1653. This was the only time in English history that the monarchy had been ousted. He died of natural causes in 1658 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. In 1660 the monarchy was restored by Charles II, the son of Charles I. On January 30, 1661, the anniversary of the execution of Charles I, Cromwell's body was exhumed and taken by sleigh through snow to Tyburn. The procession was greeted by the sounds of outcry and curses from the people. The corpse was hanged from the gallows for a day, and by that evening, the body was buried beneath the gibbet. His head was taken to Westminster Hall, where it was exhibited on a pole until near the end of Charles II's reign in 1685. His head passed through many hands before coming into the care of Sydney Sussex College in 1960. There is a marker at each burial site.
Bio by: Kieran Smith
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