Lady Godiva

Home > ... > People > History > British and Irish History: Biographies > ...

Lady Godiva

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Lady Godiva , fl. c.1040-80, wife of Leofric, earl of Mercia; famous for her legendary ride through the city of Coventry. She was a benefactor of several monasteries, especially that at Coventry, which she and her husband founded (1043). The legend about her, which first appears in the chronicle of Roger of Wendover , states that her husband agreed to remit the heavy taxation on the people of Coventry if she would ride naked through the town on a white horse. The story of Peeping Tom, the only person who looked through the closed shutters, did not enter the legend until the 17th cent. Michael Drayton (1613), Tennyson (1842), and others made Lady Godiva the subject of poems. A bronze statue of her by Sir William Reid Dick was erected in Coventry in 1949.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Godiva-L" title="Facts and information about Lady Godiva">Lady Godiva</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Lady Godiva." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Lady Godiva." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 22, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Godiva-L.html

"Lady Godiva." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Godiva-L.html

Learn more about citation styles

Godiva, Lady

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Godiva, Lady (d. c.1080) English benefactress, wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. According to tradition, Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets of Coventry in 1040 to persuade her husband to reduce the burden of taxation.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-GodivaLady" title="Facts and information about Lady Godiva">Lady Godiva</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Godiva, Lady." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 22 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Godiva, Lady." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 22, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-GodivaLady.html

"Godiva, Lady." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-GodivaLady.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Lady Godiva rides through Leeds: SEE THE PICTURE.
Newspaper article from: Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds, England); 1/18/2008
Free Article FEATURE/President Bush's `Family Forest' Includes Washington, Lincoln, even Lady Godiva.
Business Wire; 2/15/2002
Free Article The next tax bill. (consumption taxes) (Column)
Magazine article from: USA Today (Magazine); 9/1/1993

Facts and information from other sites

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

The truth about Lady Godiva laid bare.(News)
Newspaper article from: The Birmingham Post (England); 1/16/1999; 700+ words ; ...Whatever the truth of the story of Lady Godiva's ride, she has remained one...Birmingham to find the chocolates. Lady Godiva would not doubt be be pleased to...there is anecdotal evidence that Lady Godiva and her husband Leofric were buried...
Clash of the two ladies on horseback; MAYORESS ACCUSES NAKED GODIVA OF HIJACKING BANBURY'S SYMBOL.(News)
Newspaper article from: Coventry Evening Telegraph (England); 7/28/2000; ; 700+ words ; COVENTRY'S Lady Godiva has ridden into a...She said: "The lady in this mural is...Coventry has Lady Godiva and we have our fine...mayoress thinks we have Lady Godiva. We are not...modern-day Lady Godiva, Pru Porretta...
Lady Godiva takes the reins for TV advert; CHRISTMAS PROMOTION: Marketing campaign draws on city's famous heroine.(News)
Newspaper article from: Coventry Evening Telegraph (England); 11/7/2005; 700+ words ; Byline: By Alan Harris LADY GODIVA will display her charms on TV this...sociology student Yasmin Gregory is Lady Godiva in the "most ambitious" TV advert...Student Yasmin Gregory as Lady Godiva rides into the cathedral ruins on...
Lady Godiva: A Literary History of the Legend.(Reviews of Books)(Book Review)
Magazine article from: Albion; 3/22/2004; ; 700+ words ; Daniel Donoghue. Lady Godiva: A Literary History of the Legend...0047-8. Few would argue that Lady Godiva is famous, some might even recall her...literary history of the legend of Lady Godiva, Daniel Donoghue sets out to fill in...
Pru marks 25 years as city's Lady Godiva; MILESTONE: Former beauty queen looks back on 'privilege' of playing the famous icon.(Features)
Newspaper article from: Coventry Evening Telegraph (England); 4/13/2007; 700+ words ; ...city in recession, but 25 years on Lady Godiva Pru Porretta is still relishing...Porretta, Coventry's much-loved Lady Godiva, on her first engagement in the...in June 1982 and (inset) at the Godiva Sisters day in September last year...
Dig may lay bare the real Lady Godiva
Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 1/3/1999; ; 700+ words ; ...HUNT begins this year for the real Lady Godiva - the woman famed for riding naked...Coventry. Little is known about Godiva, beyond her legendary ride baring...which dates from the 14th century. Lady Godiva is believed to have founded an earlier...
Lady Godiva's ride, Hitler's air force shaped Coventry's legacy and lore.(The Orange County Register)
Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service; 11/20/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...concerts, parties and parades. Lady Godiva is remembered with a...position. Look for the Lady Godiva Clock, which chimes the hour complete with depictions of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom. While historians...doubt the veracity of the Lady Godiva legend, the city's other...
TIME STOPS FOR TOM; LADY GODIVA TAKES A 12-WEEK REST AS CLOCK RECEIVES MAJOR OVERHAUL.(News)
Newspaper article from: Coventry Evening Telegraph (England); 2/15/2002; 639 words ; ...COVENTRY'S world famous Lady Godiva clock is to get its first...running gear which sends Lady Godiva on her journey is replaced...come." At the moment Lady Godiva appears twice at...another eyeful of Lady Godiva; THREE'S A CROWD: Senior...
Lady Godiva's future riding on your vote; CONSULTATION: Public to have say on whether statue is moved.(News)
Newspaper article from: Coventry Evening Telegraph (England); 3/1/2007; 700+ words ; ...will get to say whether Lady Godiva stays in Broadgate or trots...options are to move the Lady Godiva statue, move the Coventry...the city's favourite lady. CAPTION(S): KEY VOTE... Coventry's Lady Godiva Pru Porretta is encouraging...
The naked facts; HISTORY The Lady Godiva legend has captured the imagination over the centuries. Clive Upton looks at the truth.(Features)
Newspaper article from: The Birmingham Post (England); 2/6/2009; 700+ words ; ...In Grafton's version, Godiva went to the magistrates of...those riding with him and Godiva's gentlewomen. This then explains how the good lady is "unseen byanyone", without...become almost as important as Godiva herself. Where did Peeping...
Click to see an enlarged picture
Lady Godiva. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Popular on Newser: