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Balthasar Charles

Madrid, 17 Oct 1629 – Zaragoza, 9 Oct 1646

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born17 Oct 1629, Madridnot verified1 source
  • TitleDuchy of Montblancor Prince of Asturias, 1632–1646not verified1 source
  • TitlePrince of Asturias, 1632–1646or Duchy of Montblancnot verified1 source
  • Died9 Oct 1646, Zaragozanot verified1 source
  • MotherElisabeth of Francenot verified1 source
  • FatherPhilip IV of Spainnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 17 Oct 1629

    Born in Madrid

  2. 1632–1646

    Prince of Asturias

  3. 9 Oct 1646

    Dies in Zaragoza, aged 16

Family

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Parents

During his lifetime

He lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Madrid.

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

The 1620s · Balthasar is born in Madrid

In the news1628

Dutch capture treasure fleet in 1628

In 1628, the Dutch captured the entire American treasure fleet at the Cuban bay of Matanzas, severely impacting the Crown's finances.

Getting around

Fast travel via relay horses

Travel via the post system was the fastest method, with royal mail and some travelers using relay horses to reach speeds covering 150 to 200 kilometers per day. A trip from Seville to Madrid, for example, was expected to be completed in two days and eighteen hours.

In the news1627

First royal bankruptcy in 1627

In 1627, Spain was forced to declare its first bankruptcy due to the insupportable military strain on the monarchy's resources.

Daily life

Strict penalties for illegal waste dumping

On September 23, 1639, a decree in Madrid mandated that waste must be emptied only through street doors at specific times, with penalties including 100 lashes and six years of exile for servants caught throwing it out of windows.

What people wore

Price of smoke cloaks

In 1680, the price for a yard of smoke cloak, a popular thin black accessory, was set at seven and a half reales.

Music

Taborers Guiding Festival Dancers

Taborers were hired for festivals like Corpus Christi to guide dancers, often charging for their services by performing in town streets or during processions.

At the table

The staple olla stew for commoners

The staple dish for commoners was a thick stew known as olla, which was simmered for hours and often thickened with flour made from wheat or millet, popularly called flour of the poor. It typically consisted of available legumes, such as chickpeas, beans, or fava beans, and vegetables like turnips.