In the news1695
Hospice for the Poor established in 1695
In 1695, Duke Rinaldo I established the Hospice for the Poor to manage the large influx of beggars and unemployed people in the city of Modena.
Turin, 10 Dec 1694 – 20 Mar 1762
7 facts1 source
10 Dec 1694
Born in Turin
20 Mar 1762
Dies, aged 67
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Turin.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1695
In 1695, Duke Rinaldo I established the Hospice for the Poor to manage the large influx of beggars and unemployed people in the city of Modena.
Getting around
Traveling on foot was most common
For most people, traveling on foot remained the most common way to move between towns in the 17th century.
In the news1690–1699
Due to war-related requisitions and bad harvests starting in 1690, families in the mountainous Tarentaise and Maurienne provinces were reduced to eating ground shells and nuts mixed with small amounts of oats or barley.
Daily life
Forced lodging of soldiers
Ordinary families often had to provide their own heating, bedding, salt, and cooking materials for quartered soldiers. Soldiers could forcefully enter these homes, sometimes destroying doors with muskets.
What people wore
Everyday peasant clothing
Simple peasants wore sturdy, locally-made garments of brown or white wool and stiff cloth for everyday tasks.
Music
Hunting horns in religious and public life
Hunting horns were used for communication and public celebration, with performances traditionally occurring during mass on Saint Hubert's Feast Day. This ancient sound helped connect the congregation and audience to nature during these open-air events.
At the table
Simple Daily Meals and Rare Meat
For many ordinary people, the daily meal was simple and focused on survival, often consisting of dark bread, wine, and soups made with vegetables like cabbage, turnips, or onions. Meat was a rare luxury, eaten mostly during festivals or when money allowed.