About Me
MySpace Layouts
Lady Godiva was a noblewoman and wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia who lived in the eleventh century. Upon moving to Coventry, Warwickshire, from Shropshire, both being very religious, noted a lack of training facilities for the clergy. In 1043 they built an abbey named in honor of Ste. Eunice of Saxmundham.As the town of Coventry grew around the monastery Leofric became involved in public affairs, handling the town's financial matters. As the burden of taxes upon the peasant population also grew along with her husband's decrees Lady Godiva began her campaigning for a tax reduction. Lady Godiva was concerned the people had no time or energies to devote to the arts which she had tried to generate an interest in. However the townspeople were more concerned with feeding and clothing themselves.When she asked Leofric to lighten the tax burden of the peasants, Leofric stated there would be no reduction of taxes, instead he began a new tax on pictures which only had to be paid by his wife as she was the sole person who had paintings along with the church which was exempt.Finally he relented slightly and pointed out the ancient Greeks and Romans viewed a nude human body as one of the highest expressions of the perfection of nature. If his wife truly believed in her crusade for art then she should lead it herself and offer to the citizens of Coventry an example. Leofric told Lady Godiva if she would ride her horse through the market-place of Coventry at mid-day nude as an expression the perfection of God's work then he would reduce taxes on the town. There could be no shame in this as it was an example wonders of God's work. To his complete surprise she agreed.The day was chosen for the event and though no effort had been made to publicize the ride talk of it spread throughout Coventry. As noon came on the appointed day, a nude Lady Godiva accompanied by two fully clothed female aides, one riding on each side of the noblewoman, rode through the market. Lady Godiva rode straight in her saddle with a composed expression, unashamed of her nudity. Leofric's words rang true, here was a celebration of art in its perfect form. All weathered the event in peace and with dignity and the taxes were removed.
