Death of Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell's death: how did Oliver Cromwell died?

Some think that Oliver Cromwell's reforms were designed to gain the trust of his army so he could safely be named King later. History will never be sure, for in the middle of these reforms, Oliver Cromwell became ill. In 1658, after his favorite daughter, Elizabeth died of cancer, he came down with malaria.

When did Oliver Cromwell die?

Oliver Cromwell died on September 3.

How old was Oliver Cromwell when he died?

Oliver Cromwell died at the age of 59 in Whitehall, where he had once gazed upon the body of King Charles I. He was buried with much honor and ceremony in Westminster Abbey, ...but he did not rest there for long.

Oliver Cromwell's death heralded the collapse of the Commonwealth and the restoration of the monarchy. His son Richard was named Lord Protector but he was a weak leader and soon he gladly surrendered his title. After a few years of confusion, when the economy collapsed and rebellions seemed inevitable, the Stuart prince was invited to take the throne, by common consent of the majority of the English people. After years of debate, hardship, war and death, England was right back where it started with an extravagant king who had little respect for Parliament or for religious freedom.

One of the first acts of King Charles II was to have the corpse of Oliver Cromwell disinterred, hanged at Tyburn where criminals were executed, and beheaded. His body was then buried beneath the gallows but his head was impaled on a pole atop Westminster Hall, where it remained throughout the reign of Charles II.

Accomplishments of Oliver Cromwell

One of the changes made under Oliver Cromwell's leadership was the nation's new coinage. One side of the new coins read "God with Us" and the other side read "The Republic of England." A royalist, upon first seeing the coin, dryly remarked: "Quite proper that God and the republic should be on different sides."

Oliver Cromwell was often cruel and tyrannical but he made many contributions to England. Oliver Cromwell helped build a superb army and a large navy that earned the respect of the Commonwealth throughout Europe. Oliver Cromwell aided the development of English colonies in Asia and North America.

At home, he established a broad church with complete freedom for Christians who wished to worship outside it. Despite opposition from his council, he allowed Jews to settle in England, for the first time since 1290, almost 400 years before. Although he was a devout Puritan, Oliver Cromwell was less rigid than many. He, himself, took delight in music and liked to listen to the organ. He was known to smoke, drink sherry and beer, and enjoy food, if it was English. He even permitted dancing at the wedding of his youngest daughter.