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Duchess Anna of Prussia

Königsberg, 3 Jul 1576 – Berlin, 30 Aug 1625

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 3 Jul 1576

    Born in Königsberg

  2. 1595–1603

    5 children are born

  3. 30 Aug 1625

    Dies in Berlin, aged 49

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 5

During her lifetime

She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Königsberg.

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

The 1570s · Duchess is born in Königsberg

In the news1570–1599

Deadly epidemic after 1569

A severe epidemic struck several Prussian cities, with mortality so high in Toruń that corpses were moved by the dozen in carts.

Getting around

Challenging roads and poor lodging conditions

Deep, sandy, or muddy roads often forced travelers to stop frequently, and horses could become exhausted by heat and insects, necessitating breaks until temperatures dropped. Some travelers carried their own beds to ensure comfort when staying in poor-quality wayside inns.

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.

Daily life

Seasonal schooling for children

Education was seasonal because children were needed for farm work, so classes were mostly held in winter. Parents were sometimes threatened with a fine of one pound of wax if they failed to send their children to school.

What people wore

Carrying Cash in Needle Cases

Peasant men and women working in the fields often carried small amounts of cash in purses attached to their belts, specifically in needle cases, possibly for safety. In one 1540 incident, ten men and ten women working in a meadow were robbed of items including ten belts with needle cases that contained a total of 1.5 kopa grossi.

Music

Ducal instrumental music in Königsberg

At the ducal court in Königsberg, instrumental ensembles performed music using instruments such as lutes, trumpets, and fiddles.

At the table

Meager diet of the rural peasantry

Ordinary peasants often relied on a meager diet consisting of black bread and porridge, frequently eaten without any added fat, while drinking plain water.