Lady Godiva, also known as Godgyfu or Godgifu, was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who lived in the 11th century. But it’s not her lineage that she’s known for, it’s her legendary ride. According to the story, she protested against her husband’s heavy taxes on the citizens of Coventry by riding through the streets of the city… completely naked.
The legend goes that Lady Godiva had pleaded with her husband, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, to lower the taxes on the citizens of Coventry, but he refused. In a bold move, she decided to make a statement by riding through the streets of Coventry on horseback, with only her long hair covering her body. The citizens, out of respect for her, stayed inside and closed their windows, so as not to see her nakedness.
But here’s the thing, the historical existence of Lady Godiva is not certain and the first written records of the legend date back to the 13th century, more than 100 years after the alleged event. The story of Lady Godiva as a naked horseback rider protesting against taxes appears to be a later addition to the legend.
Despite this, the legend of Lady Godiva has become an iconic figure in English history and her legend has been depicted in various forms of art and literature throughout the centuries. The most famous depiction of her is the painting by John Collier, which depicts her riding through the streets of Coventry, with her long hair covering her nudity. So whether she really did ride naked or not, she certainly left an impression in history.
