In the news1598
Edict of Nantes signed
The Edict of Nantes was issued in 1598, marking the end of the religious wars and granting limited rights to Huguenots.
Château de Coucy, 3 Jun 1594 – Paris, 22 Oct 1665
9 facts3 sources
3 Jun 1594
Born in Château de Coucy
16 Aug 1614
A daughter is born
22 Oct 1665
Dies in Paris, aged 71
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Château de Coucy.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1598
The Edict of Nantes was issued in 1598, marking the end of the religious wars and granting limited rights to Huguenots.
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 news1562–1598
The French Wars of Religion broke out in 1562, leading to immense loss of life through violence, famine, and disease that lasted until 1598.
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
Sounds of daily life and festivals
While church music was restricted, bells rhythmically marked daily life, and loud instruments like oboes and bagpipes were used for village festivals and celebrations.
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.