What an excellent article, thank you. Lady Godiva's story reminds me a bit of the Life of St Ethelflaeda of Romsey Abbey, who was another influential 11th century leader. She was widely praised for her night-time habit of going to a nearby 'fount' (probably the river Test) to bathe in the nude each night to say her psalms. It was an ascetic devotion that even formed part of her cult, recorded in the Nova Legenda Angliae (a summary can be found here: https://archive.org/details/cu31924028057226). My wife painted an Orthodox icon of this chilly devotion, and displayed it in a London church recently, which was as well received as it was unexpected. Although the lives of both Lady Godiva and St Ethelflaeda are recorded fairly late it is an interesting parallel, and based on other studies I wouldn't put much past Saxon women.
What a great comment, thank you. I hadn't connected the two women, but the stories are similar and they would have been contemporaries! I'll be putting AEthelflaed of Romsey on my list for future newsletters
I wonder if the "fount" was Mottisfont? There is a spring in the grounds of the Abbey just under 5 miles away. But there may be many such springs in the area, as the geology is conducive to them.
Really enjoyed reading this article, it certainly shattered the understanding gained from childhood stories. You mentioned that Roger of Wendover had a habit of exaggerating and fabricating stories. I wondered if the concept of a noblewoman riding naked for a purpose was a common myth in other cultures that he had appropriated or is this a relatively unique myth?
What a great question! I'm no expert in thirteenth century writing, but I have heard a few early medieval stories of female saints who are miraculously able to hide their nudity. For example, Saint Agnes was condemned to walk through the streets and her hair grew to cover her nudity, I think Roger may well have been thinking on those lines!
This such an informative piece, thank you! I always loved the story of Lady Godiva but wasn’t quite sure why. I think my interest was peaked by the classic painting pictured here. As a teenager it seemed to me an act of rebellion and radical acceptance of female sexuality, which although far remote from the point of the myth, was likely a more direct inspiration of the artist’s work. Spectating art has always been a pseudo-erotic act. So this kind of scene is the cultured voyeur’s delight.
I’m also reminded of a scene in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu where a young girl rides a horse naked in a cultic procession to kill a vampire in the Transylvanian woods.
Thank you for this! I listend and read along. Your accent is delightful. I was surprised to learn that Godgifu appears in the Doomsday book. I was under the impression that any unmarried female Saxon landholder soon found herself married to a Norman as a way of completing their "conquest" and gaing control over the land. Do we know if her lands were eventually taken by the Normans. Did she remarry? I would love to learn more about her granddaughter, Edith of Mercia, Earl Edwin and Earl Morcar's sister, and the legal wife of Harald Godwinson. What happened to her and her children after the William of Normandy became king. There's been fiction written but the truth is always more interesting.
What an excellent article, thank you. Lady Godiva's story reminds me a bit of the Life of St Ethelflaeda of Romsey Abbey, who was another influential 11th century leader. She was widely praised for her night-time habit of going to a nearby 'fount' (probably the river Test) to bathe in the nude each night to say her psalms. It was an ascetic devotion that even formed part of her cult, recorded in the Nova Legenda Angliae (a summary can be found here: https://archive.org/details/cu31924028057226). My wife painted an Orthodox icon of this chilly devotion, and displayed it in a London church recently, which was as well received as it was unexpected. Although the lives of both Lady Godiva and St Ethelflaeda are recorded fairly late it is an interesting parallel, and based on other studies I wouldn't put much past Saxon women.
What a great comment, thank you. I hadn't connected the two women, but the stories are similar and they would have been contemporaries! I'll be putting AEthelflaed of Romsey on my list for future newsletters
I wonder if the "fount" was Mottisfont? There is a spring in the grounds of the Abbey just under 5 miles away. But there may be many such springs in the area, as the geology is conducive to them.
Thank you. Very enlightening!
Interesting. Great Work
Interesting. Great Work
Fascinating! I was always wondering about the true origins of the story. You delivered a truly artful answer. Three cheers!
Really enjoyed reading this article, it certainly shattered the understanding gained from childhood stories. You mentioned that Roger of Wendover had a habit of exaggerating and fabricating stories. I wondered if the concept of a noblewoman riding naked for a purpose was a common myth in other cultures that he had appropriated or is this a relatively unique myth?
What a great question! I'm no expert in thirteenth century writing, but I have heard a few early medieval stories of female saints who are miraculously able to hide their nudity. For example, Saint Agnes was condemned to walk through the streets and her hair grew to cover her nudity, I think Roger may well have been thinking on those lines!
This such an informative piece, thank you! I always loved the story of Lady Godiva but wasn’t quite sure why. I think my interest was peaked by the classic painting pictured here. As a teenager it seemed to me an act of rebellion and radical acceptance of female sexuality, which although far remote from the point of the myth, was likely a more direct inspiration of the artist’s work. Spectating art has always been a pseudo-erotic act. So this kind of scene is the cultured voyeur’s delight.
I’m also reminded of a scene in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu where a young girl rides a horse naked in a cultic procession to kill a vampire in the Transylvanian woods.
Hi Florence, Have you thought of linking up with Sandi Toksvig’s Mappa Mundi project at Christ’s College, Cambridge? https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/magazine/issue-102/mapping-the-world-of-great-women-and-their-incredible-stories
Thank you for this! I listend and read along. Your accent is delightful. I was surprised to learn that Godgifu appears in the Doomsday book. I was under the impression that any unmarried female Saxon landholder soon found herself married to a Norman as a way of completing their "conquest" and gaing control over the land. Do we know if her lands were eventually taken by the Normans. Did she remarry? I would love to learn more about her granddaughter, Edith of Mercia, Earl Edwin and Earl Morcar's sister, and the legal wife of Harald Godwinson. What happened to her and her children after the William of Normandy became king. There's been fiction written but the truth is always more interesting.
Lady Godiva us my great great way back grandmother