Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg

Kassel, 15 May 1648 – Bad Schwalbach, 20 Nov 1725

8 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 15 May 1648

    Born in Kassel

  2. 1675–1684

    2 children are born

  3. 20 Nov 1725

    Dies in Bad Schwalbach, aged 77

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kassel.

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

The 1640s · William, is born in Kassel

In the news1618–1648

Destruction of the Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War, lasting from 1618 to 1648, caused a demographic catastrophe where roughly one-third of urban residents and two-fifths of the rural population perished. Soldiers and camp followers frequently destroyed crops and seized food, leading to widespread famine and forcing villagers to abandon their land.

At the table

Salted Herring as a Daily Staple

Salted herring was a vital, affordable protein source for ordinary people, with a single fish costing 2 alb. It served as a staple alongside bread and cheese to supplement grain-based diets.

What people wore

Men's fashion favored comfort and leather boots

During the Thirty Years' War, men's fashion shifted toward comfort, featuring high-waisted doublets and wide, knee-length breeches that fell in loose folds. Soldiers and educated men alike popularized large leather boots that reached above the knee, which were often worn turned down or slouching.

Getting around

Travel Speeds Were Generally Very Slow

Typical travelers, often delayed by weather, poor roads, or cargo, were generally happy to cover 100 kilometers in a week.

What it cost

Wages paid in goods

By the mid-17th century, laborer contracts often included payment in kind, such as pairs of shoes, grain, or clothing, in addition to a daily or annual wage.

Music

Regulated Wedding Celebrations

Weddings were the most significant lifetime celebrations, with music, guest lists, and food heavily regulated according to the social status of the families involved.

Daily life

Seasonal and variable schooling

Children's schooling was not mandatory and often seasonal; for example, in Isny, lessons could include math, music, and Latin, with some students having four different teachers throughout the day. In many areas, summer schooling was rare as children were required to work on farms.