Charles II of Spain

What people wore

The extreme volume of the guardainfante

Women used a wire or wicker frame called a guardainfante to puff out their skirts, a trend so popular that it reached extreme sizes, sometimes making it difficult for two people to pass through a space. Although a 1639 law restricted this style, it remained widely accepted and worn across various social sectors throughout the mid-17th century.

Daily life

Home-based education and skills training

Education for children was primarily home-based, where they acquired basic life skills, religious practices, and labor training from their families.

Work

Young girls in olive harvesting crews

The most frequent age for a girl to start working as an olive picker was 13 years old, and some started as young as 6. Late marriage at age 24 was common for these workers, compared to those who did not participate in this labor market.

Music

Church music featured multi-choir villancicos

Religious festivals like Corpus Christi featured elaborate musical performances in churches, including villancicos sung by multiple choirs accompanied by instruments.

At the table

Meat was a rare luxury

Meat was a luxury for ordinary people, with beef being preferred because it was one-third cheaper than mutton. Many families survived on a mostly vegetarian diet of bread, legumes, and vegetables.

Getting around

Carriage travel and incidents in mid-17th century Madrid

Travel by carriage was largely reserved for the wealthy or noble; these vehicles were uncomfortable as they lacked suspension and had their body fixed to the wheel axles. Traffic congestion in Madrid was severe enough that in January 1655, a dispute over a coach accident led an offended noble to attack the governor's mules with a sword.

What it cost

Cost of bread and beef in 1665

In 1665, a pound of bread cost 37.6 maravedíes, while a kilogram of beef cost 52 maravedíes.