In the news1572
Banking house collapse ruins economy (1572)
The collapse of the major merchant and banking house Loitz in Stettin in 1572 caused widespread economic turmoil throughout the region of Pomerania.
9 Oct 1572 – Karlsruhe, 30 Apr 1614
9 facts1 source
9 Oct 1572
Born
1595–1605
2 children are born
30 Apr 1614
Dies in Karlsruhe, aged 41
She lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1572
The collapse of the major merchant and banking house Loitz in Stettin in 1572 caused widespread economic turmoil throughout the region of Pomerania.
Getting around
Walking as the primary mode of transport
Most ordinary people traveled on foot, often covering 20 to 30 kilometers in a day.
In the news1575
A widespread outbreak of smallpox and measles occurred in Holstein in 1575, severely impacting the lives of local families.
Daily life
Regulation of waste and public conduct
Public authorities in the 16th century strictly regulated domestic waste disposal, punishing the act of pouring urine or dirty dishwater onto the streets. Naked swimming was also heavily sanctioned, with eight men in Frankfurt being sentenced to four weeks of prison on bread and water for swimming in the Main river in 1541.
What people wore
The high value of clothing and tailoring
Clothing was highly valuable, often made to measure by tailors, and could be pawned to raise funds quickly. A typical working man's entire wardrobe might be worth only a few shillings to a pound.
Music
Professional city musicians, the Stadtpfeifer
Stadtpfeifer, or city pipers, were professional musicians employed by councils to perform on towers, in dance halls, and at public festivities using instruments like shawms, sackbuts, and slide brass.
At the table
Rare Festive Pastries
For ordinary families, sweet pastries fried in fat, known as Nonnenfürzle, were rare festive delicacies served on special occasions like church festivals. They were made from choux pastry and, according to local tradition, were named for the hissing sound they made as steam escaped in the hot fat.