The Legend Of Lady Godiva

By | March 5, 2019

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A painting of Lady Godiva riding through town nude while a peeping Tom watches. Source: (Photo by Mark Kauffman/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

The Legend

The legend of Lady Godiva is that she rode naked through town, but why? The legend goes like this: Lady Godiva pleaded with her husband to lower the taxes for the citizens. He said he would if she rode through town naked. Quite the challenge!

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Painting of Lady Godiva of Coventry. Source: (youtube.com)

Who was Lady Godiva?

Lady Godiva was married to Leofric, the Earl of Mercer and Lord of Coventry. He had great power and influence as he was close to King Harold I. He and his wife, Lady Godiva, were very religious and gave a lot of money to churches and monasteries. Lady Godiva was especially benevolent. She was admired and revered by the citizens she and her husband lorded over.