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Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna of Russia

Saint Petersburg, 24 Dec 1784 – Ludwigslust, 24 Sep 1803

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 24 Dec 1784

    Born in Saint Petersburg

  2. 15 Sep 1800

    A son is born

  3. 24 Sep 1803

    Dies in Ludwigslust, aged 18

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Saint Petersburg.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1780s · Grand is born in Saint Petersburg

What people wore

Russian court dress and military-style fashion

By the end of the 1770s, a distinct Russian court dress emerged for noblewomen, characterized by a short train and long hanging sleeves. Empress Catherine II sometimes wore a female version of a military regimental uniform, tailored in the style of an amazon riding habit and trimmed with gold lace.

Getting around

Horse-drawn travel at 5 km/h

In the late 18th century, nobility and officials primarily traveled between towns in horse-drawn carriages, kibitkas, or sledges in winter, with an average speed of about 5 km/h.

At the table

Daily Rye Bread Staples

Rye bread was the essential staple, with adults consuming nearly two pounds daily, often stored as a sourdough starter for up to two weeks.

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.In Europe · 1789–1799

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.

Unidentified painter · public domain

Music

Popular instruments and music in society

In fashionable society, the harp and guitar became increasingly popular for accompanying sentimental songs and romances, while the polonaises of the Polish composer Kozlowski were played constantly in homes and at social gatherings.

Daily life

Peasant hygiene and living conditions

Peasant life included poor hygiene, as families often shared a single dirty cloth for two weeks to wipe their hands, faces, and kitchenware. In winter, young livestock were sometimes kept inside the peasant cabin, which, combined with smoky air, negatively affected living conditions and health.

What it cost

Annual earnings of textile workers

In 1796, women working in textile production could earn 50 to 90 paper rubles per year.