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Frederick VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach

Karlsburg Castle, 16 Nov 1617 – Karlsburg Castle, 10 Jan 1677

7 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 16 Nov 1617

    Born in Karlsburg Castle

  2. 1645–1651

    4 children are born

  3. 10 Jan 1677

    Dies in Karlsburg Castle, aged 59

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 4

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Karlsburg Castle.

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

The 1610s · Frederick is born in Karlsburg Castle

In the news1618–1623

The Kipper and Wipper Economic Crisis

Between 1618 and 1623, Germany suffered the Kipper and Wipper economic crisis, where rulers debased coins by reducing silver content, causing rapid inflation. This made it impossible for people with fixed incomes, such as teachers and pensioners, to afford basic living expenses.

At the table

Daily porridge served as the staple meal

Porridge was the primary daily meal, often cooked in large batches and reheated, leading to a tough consistency. Ordinary families ate it by reaching into a shared bowl with their hands.

What people wore

Standardized Outfits for the Poor

Charity donations in Nuremberg provided the poor with a standardized annual outfit, including a black woollen coat, waistcoat, stockings, hat, white linen shirt, and shoes, which remained unchanged for centuries.

Getting around

River travel offered rapid downstream movement

Traveling downstream by boat was the fastest method, sometimes covering up to 150 kilometers in 24 hours under optimal conditions.

Work

Long work days and child labor

During summer, work began by 5:00 AM or earlier, with tasks continuing until dark and minimal breaks. Children as young as five to nine years old, often called servants, contributed by herding animals, spinning, fetching water, or caring for younger children.

Music

Town Pipers and Their Daily Music

Town pipers, or Stadtpfeifer, were essential figures who performed at weddings, festivals, and church services using a variety of instruments like cornetts, sackbuts, and crumhorns. They also served as city watchmen, playing brass fanfares from towers to mark the time or announce events.

Daily life

Water access and heating systems

Wealthier households had private wells with pumps, but many town dwellers relied on public rivers or town ditches, which were often contaminated by waste. Some stoves featured built-in water cisterns that provided hot water for daily tasks.