Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria

At the table

Monotonous daily diet of the poor

For ordinary families, daily meals were monotonous and consisted mostly of soups, porridges made from oats or barley, pulses like peas or beans, and cabbage. Meat was rarely consumed by the common people, who relied on these staples for their daily nutrition.

What people wore

Exclusive aristocratic symbols

Wearing the color red or sporting a feather on a hat were considered highly elitist practices reserved for the aristocracy and prohibited for the rural population.

Getting around

Water travel offered the highest speeds

Travel by boat downstream was the fastest option, with vessels occasionally covering up to 150 kilometers in 24 hours under optimal conditions.

What it cost

Mercenary wages and food prices

A mercenary's monthly wage was 4 Gulden, which had to cover food and equipment for himself and his family. A pound of bacon cost 6 Kreuzer, while a pound of butter cost 1 Batzen.

Music

Musical instruments at noble gatherings

At social gatherings of the nobility, people entertained themselves by dancing, playing games, and performing music on pairs of instruments such as the lute and viol, or cornetto and drum.

Daily life

Kitchen as shared living space

The kitchen served as the primary living and heating space in farmhouses, and at night, it was common to shelter poultry indoors to keep them safe.