In the news1655
Kraków pays massive war contribution (1655)
In 1655, Kraków was forced to pay a massive contribution of 600,000 złotys during the Swedish occupation.
Poland, 1650 – Oleśnica, 31 Jan 1703
15 facts3 sources
1650
Born in Poland
1677
Podstola the Great Crown
20 Oct 1677
A son is born
1702–1703
Grand Podskarbi
31 Jan 1703
Dies in Oleśnica
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Poland.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1655
In 1655, Kraków was forced to pay a massive contribution of 600,000 złotys during the Swedish occupation.
Getting around
Average daily travel distance
Travel speeds were generally slow, with people on foot covering 20–25 kilometers per day and horse-drawn carriages covering 25–30 kilometers daily.
In the news1652
In 1652, the deputy Władysław Siciński used the liberum veto for the first time, breaking a session of the Sejm and signaling the start of political paralysis.
Daily life
Wood construction and indoor smoke management
Peasant homes were often smoky huts where smoke escaped through holes in the roof, while some wealthier urban houses had dedicated kitchens and fireplaces. Ordinary dwellings were constructed primarily of wood, which was available in abundance.
What people wore
Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing
Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.
Music
Portable organ for street processions
For the Corpus Christi procession, strong men were hired to carry a portable organ, known as a pozytyw, from station to station to accompany music in the streets. In 1674, the cost recorded for carrying the pozytyw was 18 grana.
At the table
Mandatory alcohol consumption for peasants
Common people were forced by law to buy and consume specific amounts of alcohol, such as vodka or beer, from their local lord. This practice was sometimes described as conditioning them into addiction.