Lady Godiva Countess of Mercia1

F, b. circa 980, d. 10 September 1067
Relationship31st great-grandmother of Pamela Joyce Wood
Last Edited17 Jul 2012
Lady Godiva by Hon. James Collier, circa 1898
     Lady Godiva Countess of Mercia was born circa 980 at Mercia, England.1 She married Leofric III of Mercia, son of Leofwine of Mercia and Alwara of Mercia, before 1002.1 Lady Godiva Countess of Mercia died on 10 September 1067.1 She was buried at Coventry, Warwick, England.
     Lady Godiva Countess of Mercia was also known as Godgifu. It was said in certain chronicles from the end of the 12th century that Godiva was a widow when she married Leofric, and that both were very generous in endowing monestaries throughout the area.

According to legend, Godiva pitied the suffering people of Coventry, over the heavy taxation put forth by her husband. When he repeatedly refused to lift the tolls, it is said he would comply if she would naked through the town. Godiva took him at his word and did so, after issuing proclamation that all should remain indoors and shut their windows.
It is from this story we were to acquire the phrase "Peeping Tom" after a tailor named Tom bore a hole in his shutter so he could watch the beautiful Lady Godiva. However, this was added to a later chronicle in the 17th century.

The legend of Godiva passing through Coventry market will likely live on, and there are several theories. During that time period, it was customary for pentitents to to make a public procession in only a shift - a sleeveless white garment considered to be "underwear". It may have been romanticized through the years. Another theory is that Godiva rode through town stripped of her jewelry, the trademark of her upper class rank.2 Following her husband's death, she lived on until after the Norman Conquest. Godiva appears in the Domeday survey as one of the very few Anglo-Saxons, and the only woman to retain major landholding after the conquest.2

Family

Leofric III of Mercia b. 14 May 968, d. 31 Aug 1057
Child

Citations

  1. [S284] GenPC.com, online http://genpc.com/gen/files/persons.html
  2. [S726] Wikipedia, online http://en.wikipedia.org, Lady Godiva.