Lady Godiva's England 101

lady godiva's england 101

First, I didn’t know one thing about England or the Middle Ages.

So do not worry if you don't either. The following will give you just enough so as we ride together, you won't get lost.

Just remember Godiva's ride takes place in 1045 CE in Coventry.

England at that time was divided into "earldoms."

Earl Leofric and Countess Godiva ruled the earldom of Mercia.

England went through a long history before she considered herself a country. Borders; political control; always changing because of invasions, be it the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons (Germany), the Vikings (Denmark), or Normandy (France).

Once, there were tribes. Leofric (Godiva's husband) came from the tribe of Hwicce; his roots grew deep into the land.

Tribes later gathered into Kingdoms. The Hwicce merged into the Kingdom of Mercia.

Both Godiva and Leofric own lands in English and Danish Mercia.

The term "Viking" didn't emerge until much later. They were just "Northmen" or "Danes."

Norse/Danish vs Anglo-Saxons

793 CE- “Northmen” (Scandinavian Vikings) attack and kill Lindesfarne monks

865 CE - “Great Army” of Danes invade England and fight kings for 14 years. They capture York in 866 and kill the King of East Anglia.

878 CE- Danelaw Agreement made between the English king, Alfred the Great, and the Danish warlord, Guthrum. Laws maintained separately in each area.

886 CE- Danelaw established more formally.

During next 100 years or so (skipping many details), Danish warriors are “paid off” with land by warlords. The Danes assimilate by marrying the locals, developing farms, trade. Language and cultures merged which is evident to this day. Still, a long-simmering pot of political tension finally boiled over in 1002.

1002 CE - English King, Aethelred orders any Danes in the land may be killed. Genocide. "St. Brice Massacre"

1003 CE- Retaliation of King Swein Forkbeard of Denmark with his warriors. (His sister, Gunhilde was married to the Earl of Devonshire, and she was killed in the massacre.)

1013-1016 CE- A full frontal invasion by the Danes. Forkbeard dies after becoming King of England (1014). His son, Cnut, steps into his father’s shoes but must fight King Edmund Ironside of England (son of Aethelred, who also died). They come to an agreement similar to Danelaw, but then King Edmund dies. All of England comes under Cnut’s reign.

1017 CE- King Cnut coronation in London. Cnut reorganizes boundaries and leadership. In the early years of his reign, he appointed Leofric as Earl of Mercia. King Cnut ruled as King until his death in 1035.

1045 CE- Godiva’s Ride through Coventry.

1063 CE- King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn of Wales is killed. His widow is Queen Ealdgyth (Godiva’s granddaughter)

1064 CE- Godiva writes her letters from Evesham Abbey. Queen Ealdgyth (Godiva’s granddaughter), marries Earl Harold Godwinson.

1066 CE- King Harold Godwinson’s coronation. Ealdgyth becomes Queen of England. .

The Map Godiva used

Southern England in 1000 CE. At first, it seems a bit overwhelming.

Godiva mentions only a few locations. They are listed following the map.

Coventry, where her ride takes place, is in the middle under the “C” in MERCIA.