January 30

Oliver Cromwell had a rough go of it for a while. While he may have died on September 3, 1658, he did not rest easily in the grave. On the 30th in 1661, his body was exhumed from its crypt in Westminster Abbey. Once out in the fresh air, after being decapitated, his body was hung in chains at the village of Tyburn. After a bit of airing, his body was thrown into a conveniently located pit. His head however was placed on a pole and was then put on display outside of Westminster Abbey until 1685.