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Friedrich Wilhelm, Count Brandenburg

Berlin, 24 Jan 1792 – Berlin, 6 Nov 1850

9 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 24 Jan 1792

    Born in Berlin

  2. 6 Nov 1850

    Dies in Berlin, aged 58

Family

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Parents

During his lifetime

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

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

The 1790s · Friedrich is born in Berlin

In the news1794

Unified Prussian civil law code enacted

A unified civil law code for Prussia was developed, ultimately taking effect in 1794 to ensure more honest and efficient justice.

Getting around

Traveling by foot was grueling work

Traveling on foot was common but physically grueling, as illustrated by the writer Jean Paul who walked from Hof to Bayreuth in winter 1796, arriving exhausted. Those with luggage often had to pay for a porter who served as both a guide and a carrier.

At the table

Meat was a rare and precious luxury

While fresh meat was a rare luxury, some households relied on salted or smoked pork and beef, often cooking bones in sauerkraut when meat was scarce.

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.In Europe · 1789–1799

The French Revolution. Parisians stormed the Bastille in 1789; the monarchy fell, the king was executed, and “liberty, equality, fraternity” spread across Europe.

Unidentified painter · public domain

What people wore

Men’s Sunday Black Coat

Working men typically wore a simple black coat called a Rock for their Sunday attire, which was usually fastened with hooks rather than buttons.

Music

Instruments used by common people

Ordinary people commonly played instruments like the fiddle, clarinet, horn, bass, hammered dulcimer, and bagpipes at dances and festivals. Occasionally, other instruments such as the harp, bassoon, oboe, flute, hurdy-gurdy, jew's harp, and zither were also used.

Daily life

Structured school lessons for children

Children typically began attending school at age six and received two hours of daily instruction, while older children attended for four hours in the morning. Education focused on reading, writing, arithmetic, and religious instruction, with some schools incorporating geography, nature study, and health science.