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Albert Ernest I of Oettingen-Oettingen

Oettingen in Bayern, 14 May 1642 – Schrattenhofen, 29 Mar 1683

8 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 14 May 1642

    Born in Oettingen in Bayern

  2. 1671–1672

    2 children are born

  3. 29 Mar 1683

    Dies in Schrattenhofen, aged 40

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 2

During his lifetime

He lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Oettingen in Bayern.

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

The 1640s · Albert is born in Oettingen in Bayern

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

River Travel Was Often the Fastest Option

Traveling by boat downstream on rivers like the Danube was the fastest method, sometimes covering up to 150 kilometers in 24 hours.

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

Weekly Music in Villages

In rural villages, musicians and singers performed church music every Sunday, and they even held dance events in local taverns.

Daily life

Dark and smoky rural homes

Rural homes, known as Hallenhäuser, lacked chimneys; the open fire caused dark, smoky, and stuffy living conditions. Families often lived under the same roof as their livestock, sharing the space with generations and servants.