Who is Lady Godiva?

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History Coventry associated with two legendary personalities?? Earl Leofric (Earl Leofric) and Lady Godiva (Lady Godiva) .

real name Lady Godiva was? Godgifu , mean? gift of God?. The old pronunciation has changed over many centuries and has become a current name . Leofric's wife never wore the official title? Lady?,? title was given to her descendants much ? Later in life and turned to her, "Countess Godiva" ?( countess).

Even before her marriage,? Godgifu ? held high positions in society and owned vast lands, including Coventry. Her marriage to become profitable Leofric Union, creating one of the wealthiest families in England. The couple founded many churches and monasteries. The monastery at Coventry was one of the most luxurious in the area.

Leofric was known as one of the most influential nobles in the country and a vassal of the king himself. King Knut Earl appointed him a year after coming to the throne in 1016 and nearly 40 years of Leofric increased their influence and wealth. He died in 1057, Godiva and 10 years later, by that time become the most influential zemlevladelitsey England.

Royal Charter Edward the Confessor, is now recognized as a fake, claims that in 1043 Leofric and Godiva founded a Benedictine monastery for 24 monks. He later became the Cathedral of St.. Mary. Although the Charter and recognized by a fake, there is no reason not to trust its content: there is enough reasons for anyone (for example, Abbot) wished to forge or to correct the document. Perhaps, in order to lay claim to the land or property not owned by the author of a fake. Sometimes the papers were made simply to replace lost again to resume ownership.

There is evidence that St. Mary's Cathedral to the already existed in 1022, when the religious life of Coventry was presented the Order of the Augustinians, and in this case , Leofric and Godiva made contributions? donating their money? in favor of the church, not? started? her.

Numerous wealth flowed into the monasteries. There is a record with words of William Malmesbury:? So much gold and silver were sent to them that the walls could not contain the wealth?.

Lady Godiva remembered now mainly for her? amazing ride naked on horseback . This wonderful story in the course of several centuries and did not lost its charm over time.

According to the most famous version, Lady Godiva,? " beautiful wife of the local lord, Leofric, Earl Mercy, was struck by the surrounding poverty, and begged her husband to cancel the merciless taxes, which he exacted from the people their county " . Wanting to please philanthropic sentiments of his wife, Leofric declared that he would do as she asks on the condition that she proskachet naked on horseback through the city, unaware that she is her rank may accept such a proposal. Lady Godiva, but cheated - she ordered city residents to lock up the house by closing all the shutters on the appointed day. Only one local boy, " spying Tom " ? ( Peeping Tom) dare to disobey, and became blind before , ? than saw Lady Godiva with long hair, closing her body : ? poluprikryv eyes, she rode on horseback through the city. After this ordeal Godiva returned to her husband, who kept his word and lowered taxes.?

Story first appeared in 1188, while the heroes of her story live on a half century earlier. ? In eroyatno , ? it? came from a pagan ritual of fertility, and was? later? popularized in the writings of Norman chronicler of 13th century Roger Vindovera.?

"spying Tom" - later embellished ? stories , which was the reason for a strange series of events.?

In 1586 the Council of the City of Coventry made the order? Adam van Noort (1562-1641) ? depict the legend of Lady Godiva. He did so, but put the picture in the window opening Leofric, staring at passers-by Lady Godiva. For unknown reasons, the city fathers put a picture on the main square in Coventry, and people mistakenly thought that Leofric was? thus disobeying city dweller - so there was addition to this story.?

P for many reasons, it seems that most of the ? still soon? just a legend, and it was not the case. Coventry at that time was still a small settlement, and such a trip? Across town? barely? Do? would take a long time. In addition, as mentioned earlier, Godiva owned vast lands , ? And Coventry in particular, so she hardly had reason to ask her husband anything about taxes in own the same city! Nevertheless, the story and her character became part of the legend, which will remind you to Coventry until the city there.

In the XVIII century in the town carnival processions were held, culminating in the emergence of "Lady Godiva "as was reported in the legend.

The tradition is still alive.? Every year in July in the War Memorial Park Coventry is a great festival dedicated to the principal symbol of the city of Coventry - Lady Godiva. ? This in the ? Park b yli ? opened three music venues and the main event about occurred in the ? Saturday, when the through the streets of Coventry was about ? costume procession, headed by the nearly naked Lady Godiva on a white horse.?

Since 1998, the three-day festival in Coventry draw About 60 thousand people every year.

In memory of this beautiful story in the center of the sculpture Coventry Lady Godiva on horseback.