General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Earl
Note: GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF ALFRED THE GREAT
EARL OF MERCIA
HUSBAND OF LADY GODIVA
Leofric made his fortune in the mutton trade. As a governme
nt official in Coventry, he was taxing nearly everything. W
hen Lady Godiva protested, he made a deal, half in jest: i
f she would ride naked through the town, he would reduce th
e taxes. To his surprise, she did, covering her body (excep
t for her legs) with her hair. The event became a celebrati
on of God's perfect creation of the human body.
Event: Founder Church of Coventry
(Research):Leofric
died Aug. 31, 1057 , Bromley, Eng.
Anglo-Saxon earl of Mercia (from some date prior to 1032)
, one of the three great earls of 11th-century England, wh
o took a leading part in public affairs. On the death of Ki
ng Canute in 1035, Leofric supported the claim of Canute'
s son Harold to the throne against that of Hardecanute; and
, during the quarrel between Edward the Confessor and Ear
l Godwine in 1051, he played the part of a mediator. Throug
h his efforts civil war was averted, and in accordance wit
h his advice the settlement of the dispute was referred t
o the Witan.
Because Chester was his principal residence and the seat o
f his government, he is sometimes called Earl of Chester. H
is wife was Godgifu, famous in legend as Lady Godiva (q.v.)
. Both husband and wife were noted as liberal benefactors t
o the church, among their foundations being the famous Bene
dictine monastery at Coventry. [Encyclopedia Britannica onl
ine <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=48932>]