Why Oliver Cromwell Was Executed Years After Dying

Oliver Cromwell is considered one of the most important statesmen in history. What happened to Cromwell in death is arguably more interesting than what happened during his life.

The history of England is littered with important statesmen. Few may be more important than Oliver Cromwell. Though the first four decades of his life were largely undistinguished, he quickly became of import. While his legacy as an English statesman is well-known, few know that he was sentenced to execution after being dead for nearly three years. 

Cromwell’s Slow Start

Cromwell completed his education at Sidney Sussex College in the late 1620s. Having grown up around radical Puritanism, he searched for religious independence. That journey would send him into deep depression.

He would slowly recover and be elected to a second term in Parliament. It was 1640. The two year term would become known as the Long Parliament. Issues at hand were unable to be resolved. As a result war would break out.

Civil War Comes to England

Known as the English Civil War, Parliament armed itself and went to war with King Charles I in late 1642. Cromwell had almost no military experience. He found other ways to contribute. He recruited troops. Soon he gained notoriety after successful contributions to the conflict. 

As Cromwell gained experience in combat, he discovered he had instinctive abilities to lead and train his men. The English Civil War included a lot of amateurs to war. The innate abilities he possessed were more significant than he could have realized. 

The first English Civil War would give way to a second English Civil War just a few years later. In between the two, a New Model Army had arisen. The New Model Army seized its opportunity and began cleansing the Long Parliament. It would become known as Pride’s Purge.

Cromwell, who had been in northern England returned to London. When he arrived he fervently joined those calling for the trial and execution of the King. He, along with many others, believed the only way to end civil war was to end King Charles. 

How To Kill a King

Executing a king was not easy. It was interference with the divine right of kings. That did not stop 59 court members, including Cromwell from signing the death warrant. On January 30th, 1649 the King Charles I was executed.

This paved way for the establishment of the Commonwealth of England. The “Rump Parliament” that had gained power and influence in wake of Pride’s Purge served as the executive and legislative powers. Cromwell was made a member of the Council of State. 

Moving on the Irish Catholics

He quickly supported plans to invade Ireland. He targeted an alliance between the Irish Confederate Catholics and English royalists. Cromwell was known to have a distinct hostility to the Irish. Both on grounds of religion and politics. 

Cromwell’s invasion of Ireland turned brutal quickly. He and his troops began killing Royalist soldiers and Irish civilians. By mid-1650, word reached Cromwell that Charles II, the son of the recently executed king, had returned from exile and was claiming his throne. 

The Rump Parliament that Cromwell had helped form was fracturing. Despite his best efforts to hold the group together, it was dissolved. Cromwell would serve in politics as a member of the Barebones Parliament and The Protectorate. 

Death after Death

He would die from malaria in 1658. Shortly after his death, The Protectorate was dissolved. Upon its dissolution, the Long Parliament was restored. Their first order of business, reinstate King Charles II and a monarchy. 

In 1661, twelve years to the day of King Charles I execution, Cromwell’s body was exhumed and subjected to a posthumous execution. His execution included being hanged from chains in Tyburn, throwin in a pit, and beheaded. His head was placed on a pole outside Westminster Hall. 

Cromwell’s legacy is one of great debate. He has been described as a perfect politician. He was called a hypocrite motivated purely by power. Some find him a radical driven by zeals of godly reformation. It is worth noting that in 1776, one of the first ships commissioned to serve in the American Continental Navy was named the Oliver Cromwell.

History for the Hurried:

May 12, 1949: Soviet Russia lifted its blockade of Berlin. For 462 days, American and British planes flew about 278,000 flights, delivering 2.3 million tons of food, coal and medical supplies to two million isolated West Berliners. They were nicknamed the “Candy Bombers.”

May 14, 1607: The first permanent English settlement in America was established at Jamestown, Virginia.