In the news1846–1847
Hunger crisis of 1846-1847
A severe potato blight caused a major hunger crisis across Europe, leading to unrest in Prussian markets and bakeries.
Sigmaringen, 1845 – Brussels, 1912
12 facts3 sources
1845
Born in Sigmaringen
1872–1875
2 children are born
1912
Dies in Brussels
She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Sigmaringen.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1846–1847
A severe potato blight caused a major hunger crisis across Europe, leading to unrest in Prussian markets and bakeries.
What people wore
Head-carried baskets with embroidered rings
Deliverers carried their goods in round white baskets called Mange on their heads, supported by embroidered cloth rings that served as both cushions and decorative accessories.
Getting around
Difficult and slow travel by stagecoach
Traveling by stagecoach in Prussia was often grueling and uncomfortable due to poorly maintained, unpaved roads and cramped, unsprung carriages. A journey from Berlin to Königsberg, spanning 565 kilometers, typically took ten to eleven days by post coach.
In Europe · 1848The Revolutions of 1848. Uprisings spread from Paris to Vienna, Berlin and Milan; most were put down, but serfdom ended in Austria.
In the news1842
Prussia introduced new laws enabling greater freedom of movement and settlement for individuals not dependent on public relief.
Music
The noisy brummtopf folk instrument
The brummtopf was a peculiar noise-making instrument used by groups of young people during winter festivities; it was made of a small wooden barrel covered with calfskin and played by rubbing horsehair strands inserted into the skin with wet hands.
Daily life
Homes heated by smoky, open hearths
Peasant homes often lacked chimneys, relying on open hearths that provided both light and heat while filling the living space with smoke. Small bundles of green pine brush, known as Kulelkes, were commonly used as fuel for these fires.