selected
Two years after his death, Oliver Cromwell's remains were exhumed for a posthumous execution and his head was placed on a spike above Westminster Hall in London, where it remained until 1685.
Related Wikipedia articles
Oliver Cromwell
English military and political leader (1599–1658)
Oliver Cromwell was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially as a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and latterly as a…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Posthumous execution
Ceremonial mutilation of a corpse as punishment
Posthumous execution is the ritual or ceremonial mutilation of an already dead body as a punishment.Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Oliver Cromwell's head
Severed head of the English statesman
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector and ruler of the Commonwealth of England after the defeat and beheading of King Charles I during the English Civil War, died on 3 September 1658 of natural causes. He was given a public funeral at Westminster Abbey equal to those of the monarchs…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Head on a spike
Severed head on a pole
A head on a spike is a severed head that has been vertically impaled for display. This has been a custom in a number of cultures, typically either as part of a criminal penalty following execution or as a war trophy following a violent conflict. The symbolic value may change…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Palace of Westminster
Meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative chambers which occupy the building. The…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)