Louis IV of Legnica

What people wore

Expensive żupan costs for wealthy burghers

Wealthy townspeople owned multiple żupans, often valued between 20 and 50 złotys, with the most expensive pieces reaching up to 300 złotys.

Daily life

Home-based nobility education

Children of the nobility were often educated at home, with lessons sometimes including physical training like throwing spears or archery, while girls were trained in household management, sewing, and embroidery to prepare for their future roles as wives and mothers. Formal education was often tailored to the child's age, and parents were warned against using excessive force, as it could cause the child to lose their presence of mind.

Work

Winter as the season for hiring staff

The Christmas to Epiphany period served as a major time for hiring new servants, as it was considered a slow season for agricultural work.

Music

Stryjanka dance at home

The stryjanka dance, performed at home to the accompaniment of a violin, consisted of a stately march followed by a lively mazurka.

At the table

Staple foods in peasant diets

A peasant diet during this period was primarily based on rye bread, with adults consuming 0.6 to 0.9 kilograms daily, alongside porridge, peas, and cabbage.

Getting around

Average daily travel distances

Travel was slow, with people on foot covering 20–25 km per day and carriages covering 25–30 km per day. Large magnate processions were similarly slow, often traveling only 25–30 km daily.

What it cost

Cost of poultry in Warsaw markets

In 1619 Warsaw, a well-fed capon cost 10 grosze, while a fat goose reached up to 20 grosze.