In the news1842
Freedom of movement laws in 1842
Prussia introduced new laws enabling greater freedom of movement and settlement for individuals not dependent on public relief.
Munich, 7 Jan 1845 – Sárvár Castle, 18 Oct 1921
9 facts2 sources
7 Jan 1845
Born in Munich
1869–1891
13 children are born
1913–1918
King of Bavaria
18 Oct 1921
Dies in Sárvár Castle, aged 76
He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Munich.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1842
Prussia introduced new laws enabling greater freedom of movement and settlement for individuals not dependent on public relief.
What people wore
Saving fabric with the Magsachte patch
Women saved money on expensive fabric by sewing a hidden patch of coarser linen, called a Magsachte, onto their dresses where it would be covered by an apron.
Daily life
Homes heated by smoky, open hearths
Peasant homes often lacked chimneys, relying on open hearths that provided both light and heat while filling the living space with smoke. Small bundles of green pine brush, known as Kulelkes, were commonly used as fuel for these fires.
In the news1846–1847
A severe potato blight caused a major hunger crisis across Europe, leading to unrest in Prussian markets and bakeries.
Music
The noisy brummtopf folk instrument
The brummtopf was a peculiar noise-making instrument used by groups of young people during winter festivities; it was made of a small wooden barrel covered with calfskin and played by rubbing horsehair strands inserted into the skin with wet hands.
In Europe1845–1852
Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.
Getting around
Difficult and slow travel by stagecoach
Traveling by stagecoach in Prussia was often grueling and uncomfortable due to poorly maintained, unpaved roads and cramped, unsprung carriages. A journey from Berlin to Königsberg, spanning 565 kilometers, typically took ten to eleven days by post coach.