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Dorothea Elisabeth Christiansdatter

Kronborg Castle, 1 Sep 1629 – Cologne, 18 Mar 1687

8 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born1 Sep 1629, Kronborg Castlenot verified1 source
  • Died18 Mar 1687, Colognenot verified1 source
  • FatherChristian IV of Denmarknot verified1 source
  • MotherKirsten Munknot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 1 Sep 1629

    Born in Kronborg Castle

  2. 18 Mar 1687

    Dies in Cologne, aged 57

Family

See the tree

Parents

During her lifetime

She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kronborg Castle.

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

The 1620s · Dorothea is born in Kronborg Castle

In the news1627–1629

Occupation of Jutland brings hardship

Foreign armies occupied Jutland from 1627 to 1629, forcing farmers to quarter soldiers, pay heavy contributions, and suffer from plague and livestock loss.

Getting around

Standard day's journey of four miles

A Danish mile, used as a measure for travel, was approximately 7.5 kilometers, and four miles were considered a standard day's journey.

In the news1619–1620

Plague kills 7,000 in Copenhagen

An outbreak of plague in Copenhagen between 1619 and 1620 resulted in 7,000 deaths.

Daily life

Open fires and smoky kitchens

Many farmhouses lacked chimneys, relying on open fires on the floor with a smoke exit hole in the roof, which made cooking smoky and eyes sore.

What people wore

Amager women required eleven aprons

Women in the village of Store Magleby on Amager needed to own at least 11 different aprons to have an appropriate outfit for every occasion.

Music

Singing folk ballads was common entertainment

In the early 17th century, the vast majority of common people relied on singing old folk ballads (folkeviser) as their primary form of music at home and at gatherings. A letter from 1609 notes that people used these ancient verses and songs to enhance the joy of all feasts and social meetings.

At the table

Beer replaced water for all ages

Because drinking water was often unsafe, people of all ages drank thin, sour beer with their meals instead.