In the news1562–1592
Recurring subsistence crises
During the wars, periodic subsistence crises occurred in 1562–1563, 1565–1566, 1573–1574, 1586–1587, and 1590–1592, causing high prices and food shortages.
Nantes, 19 Apr 1598 – Vincennes, 28 Feb 1629
9 facts3 sources
19 Apr 1598
Born in Nantes
28 Feb 1629
Dies in Vincennes, aged 30
He lived through 4 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Nantes.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1562–1592
During the wars, periodic subsistence crises occurred in 1562–1563, 1565–1566, 1573–1574, 1586–1587, and 1590–1592, causing high prices and food shortages.
Getting around
Common travel methods in late 16th century
Travelers typically walked, rode horses or mules, or used rare public carriages operated by universities. Roads were often unmaintained and lacked suspension, making travel in heavy carts uncomfortable and slow.
In the news1598
The Edict of Nantes was issued in 1598, marking the end of the religious wars and granting limited rights to Huguenots.
Daily life
Strict education and large families
Education in bourgeois families was strict, and children were often punished with a whip for petty offenses or bad language. Families were large, typically consisting of four to ten children who were taught to uphold family duties.
What people wore
Standard peasant wear in Saumur region
A 16th-century peasant from the Saumur region wore a felt hat with a turned-down brim, a sayon tunic to the mid-thigh, a blue jerkin, and a country-style coat called a balandras.
Music
One-man band instruments for dancing
For informal settings, many people used the pipe and tabor, as a single musician could play both instruments simultaneously to accompany dancing.
At the table
Bread and soup as staples
Ordinary families relied on grain-based foods, with bread and soups made of bread soaked in broth, water, or vegetable mixtures providing up to 80 percent of daily calories.