Maria Anna von der Pfalz

What people wore

Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing

Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.

Daily life

Memorable costs of spirits and meat

Brandy, known as grzolka, was so popular that one merchant in Zolkiew paid 3,000 Reichsthaler for the exclusive annual license to distill it for the town and surrounding villages. In Mlava, 80 pounds of good beef could be purchased for only one Reichsthaler.

Work

Compulsory labour and tribute on noble estates

Peasants frequently performed unpaid manual labour, known as panszczyzna, on noble estates while also maintaining their own households, growing crops, and raising livestock. They were often required to provide additional tribute in grain, poultry, and forest goods like mushrooms and berries to landowners.

Music

Bagpipes at Inns and Festivals

Bagpipes were popular instruments at inns and festivities, where they provided music for dances enjoyed by peasants, the lower bourgeoisie, and even members of the gentry.

At the table

A Breakfast of Warm Spiced Beer

Every morning, men and women typically drank a warm mixture of beer, ginger, egg yolks, and sugar. This served as their breakfast, as they rarely ate traditional morning meals.

Getting around

River travel was faster than land journeys

River transport was essential for passengers and goods, with boats traveling approximately 46 kilometers per day on routes like the Vistula. This was faster and safer than land travel, which often suffered from muddy or wobbly roads.

What it cost

Wages for Workers in 17th Century Warsaw

An ordinary worker in Warsaw earned 3 to 4 grosze per day, while a bricklayer, considered elite, could earn up to 16 grosze daily.