Was there really a Lady Godiva?
Was there really a Lady Godiva?
Lady Godiva, Old English Godgifu, (died between 1066 and 1086), Anglo-Saxon gentlewoman famous for her legendary ride while nude through Coventry, Warwickshire. Godiva was the wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia, with whom she founded and endowed a monastery at Coventry.
When was the Lady Godiva statue built?
1949
Self Sacrifice (statue)
| The Lady Godiva Statue | |
|---|---|
| Self Sacrifice in Broadgate, Coventry | |
| Beginning date | 1936 |
| Completion date | 1949 |
| Opening date | 1949 |
What was Lady Godiva’s first name?
Godiva
Lady Godiva/Full name
Where is the Lady Godiva statue?
A striking statue of Godiva stands in the city’s central square, Broadgate. Sculpted by William Reid-Dick, it was unveiled in 1949 and is one of the few statues of horses outside London to be listed (Grade II).
What Is A Lady Godiva in slang?
Cockney rhyming slang for a fiver is a ‘Lady Godiva’, and the group the Commodores are best-known for their song ‘Three Times A Lady’.
Where did the legend of Lady Godiva come from?
A Godiva was recorded in the 12th century history of Ely Abbey, Liber Eliensis; this, if the same as the figure in legend, would make Godiva a widow when Leofric married her. Both Leofric and Godiva were generous benefactors to religious houses.
What did Lady Godiva say to Leofric?
Lady Godiva pleaded with Leofric to stop this hated tax and he is reputed to have said, “You will have to ride naked through Coventry before I will change my ways”. He was quite sure that his demure, modest wife would never do such a thing.
How did Lady Godiva help the people of Coventry?
According to the typical version of the story, Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously under her husband’s oppressive taxation. Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to lower the taxes.
When was the first procession of Lady Godiva?
W. Reader dates the first Godiva procession to 1677, but other sources date the first parade to 1678, and on that year a lad from the household of James Swinnerton enacted the role of Lady Godiva.