How Lady Godiva saved the city from taxes by driving through the streets completely naked

About 900 years ago, unusual events occurred in the English city of Coventry. For us, this amazing story was recorded in Latin by two monks from St. Albans Abbey in the county of Hertfordshire. The first of them, Roger from Wendover, spoke about her in the twelfth century, and Matvey of Paris at the beginning of the thirteenth. The abbey was at the crossroads of major roads, and it seems that the monks were told by travelers traveling from the Midlands to London.

An amazing story tells of a proud and righteous woman who, in the eleventh century, rode into the streets of Coventry completely naked, covering herself only with her long hair. Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Count of Mercia. Her husband was one of the all-powerful lords who ruled England under the Danish king Knud the Great.

Lady Godiva herself was a wealthy landowner. Her husband, the count was a tyrant and did not adhere to those peace-loving beliefs that his wife. He did not have a special love for either the city or its population. He mercilessly introduced new taxes and demanded that the Coventry residents pay them.

Lady Godiva sympathized with people and begged Leofric to stop this cruel oppression. To this he replied: "Rather, you have to drive naked on Coventry, than I will change my mind". He was absolutely sure that his humble wife would never dare to do so.

But Lady Godiva caught his word and on the appointed day drove into the streets of the city as promised, covered only with her long hair.

Leofric was so overwhelmed by everything that happened that what happened seemed to him a miracle. The count immediately “freed” the city from paying excessive taxes and stopped the persecution of the church.

After this incident, Leofric became more religious and, together with his wife, financed the construction of a Benedictine monastery in Coventry in 1043. They transferred all their valuables, lands to the monastery, and rewrote 24 villages. The monastery became the largest feudal lord of his era. After the death of Count Leofik, Lady Godiva rewrote all the property of the church remaining to her by inheritance. Both of them were buried in the monastery, but to this day, unfortunately, it has not survived.

In the 17th century, history has changed a bit. The new version said that before her "trip" Lady Godiva sent messengers all over the city, insisting that all people stay at home with their windows closed during the day. Since she was very popular among people (unlike her husband), each taxpayer realized that he would benefit from her "heroic act", and did as she asked.

All fulfilled her request, except for one man who could not resist the temptation to spy. This tailor went down in history under the name "Peeping Tom." Legend has it that he was "blinded by heavenly wrath" because of his unwillingness to obey the request of a chaste woman.

In memory of this event, an annual festival has been held in Coventry since 1678. Its participants put on costumes of the 11th century and with songs and dances go along the route of Lady Godiva. It all ends with a firework.

Watch the video: Du Barry Was A Lady (April 2024).