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Princess Elvira of Bourbon

Petit-Saconnex, 28 Jul 1871 – Paris, 9 Dec 1929

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 28 Jul 1871

    Born in Petit-Saconnex

  2. 1900–1904

    3 children are born

  3. 9 Dec 1929

    Dies in Paris, aged 58

During her lifetime

She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Petit-Saconnex.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1870s · Princess is born in Petit-Saconnex

In the news1873

Gründerkrise economic crash began

In 1873, Germany experienced the Gründerkrise, a severe economic crisis that caused significant financial instability following a period of post-unification industrial boom.

Getting around

High cost of postal coach travel

In 1873, traveling by postal horse-drawn vehicle over Alpine passes was expensive, costing between 10 and 15 rappen per kilometer.

At the table

High food costs for working families

Working-class families spent 62 percent of their total budget on food, primarily on bread, coffee, or chicory substitutes.

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.In Europe · 1859–1871

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.

Baldassare Verazzi (1819-1886) · public domain

What people wore

Gender-specific work clothing customs

In the Lötschenthal region, men reportedly wore women's hats while performing stable or courtyard work as a sign that the tasks were considered women's work. In the Val d'Illiez, women wore long, dark men's trousers to navigate steep slopes for livestock and field labor.

Music

Paying for Dance Music

To pay for music at dance events, attendees could either pay for individual tunes or purchase dance ribbons, which acted like multi-trip tickets for several songs.

Daily life

Cooking over an open fire

Cooking often took place over an open fire, which filled small, cramped kitchens with smoke because there was no chimney. Families frequently prepared polenta and used dried chestnuts as a staple food during winter months.