Catherine de' Medici

What people wore

Heavy Fines for Illegal Fashion Choices

In some Italian cities, violating sumptuary laws by wearing forbidden luxurious clothing could result in a heavy fine of 25 scudi.

Daily life

Languages used in everyday life

Franco-Provencal was the language of everyday activities and family life for most people, while French was used by the highest classes.

News and letters

Price of sending private letters

Private letters could be sent for 7-9 Milanese soldi per ounce, a price comparable to the cost of buying three or four loaves of bread.

Music

The Popular Pavane Dance

The solemn, slow-moving pavane was a popular dance used by nobles for grand entries and festivities, often accompanied by drums, oboes, trombones, and violins.

What it cost

Cost of basic goods

A pair of shoes typically cost between 2 and 6 sous, while a bushel of wheat was priced at 4 sous.

Getting around

Travel was primarily on foot

For the vast majority of people in the Duchy of Savoy, traveling meant going on foot, as they lacked the means for other forms of transport.

Work

Incentives for skilled workers

Duke Emmanuel Philibert offered ten-year tax exemptions to attract foreign artisans and professionals who could teach their technical skills to local subjects. Additionally, charity institutions sometimes trained poor individuals, allowing them to gain skills and potentially join guilds under favorable conditions.