Why did Lady Godiva, one of the most legendary women of the 11th century with her courage and determination, wander around the city naked?
Leofric, wife of Lady Godiva, lord of the city of Coventry in England in the 11th century, increased taxes to strengthen the city's economy. Lady Godiva, who could not remain indifferent to the growing impoverishment of the people because of her husband, asked him to reduce taxes. Lord Leofric strongly opposed this. Although Godiva's insistence continued, he said that he would lower taxes in exchange for walking around the street naked. Because Lady Godiva was conservative or had a conservative nature at the time, Leofric never thought that his wife would accept this offer. In Christianity, there was a widespread view that walking naked is a great sin and that men will go to hell if they look at a naked woman.
Lady Godiva (died between 1066 and 1086), in Old English Godgifu, was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who is relatively well documented as the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and a patron of various churches and monasteries.
Lady Godiva did the unexpected; On the horse, she walked around the city, unbuttoning her long hair. Meanwhile, the people entered their homes and closed the doors and windows, out of respect for Lady Godiva's sacred purpose. Tom, who was the only person who was secretly looking at Lady Godiva, became blind and thus the term 'Peeping Tom' was born in English literature.
The inspiring story of Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva has become a symbol of freedom and female courage. She inspired many with her courage, determination, and purity. There are still many legends told about him. There are discourses such as that she is not naked, that abstract nudity is meant in the story, that her hair is short, and that the church portrays her with long hair. Regardless, it is a fact that Lady Godiva influenced history. His story-inspired poems, paintings were made, and a meteorite discovered in 1982 was even named after him. However, a demonstration was held in his name in Coventry in 1678, the film was shot in 1955, and she became the inspiration for the Femen group. There is also a statue of Lady Godiva in the city center of Broadgate.
We all know that Lady Godiva is not and will not be the only heroine of selfish, selfless, and selfless stories featuring women.