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Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera

Gera, 10 Jun 1572 – Gera, 3 Dec 1635

8 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 10 Jun 1572

    Born in Gera

  2. 1595–1621

    3 children are born

  3. 3 Dec 1635

    Dies in Gera, aged 63

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 3

During his lifetime

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

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

The 1570s · Henry is born in Gera

In the news1575

Smallpox and measles epidemic (1575)

A widespread outbreak of smallpox and measles occurred in Holstein in 1575, severely impacting the lives of local families.

Getting around

Uncomfortable carriage travel for the wealthy

While carriages existed, they were largely used by the sick or wealthy, as they were uncomfortable, unsprung, and known for their squeaky axles.

In the news1572

Banking house collapse ruins economy (1572)

The collapse of the major merchant and banking house Loitz in Stettin in 1572 caused widespread economic turmoil throughout the region of Pomerania.

Daily life

School costs in pfennigs

Families sometimes paid quarterly school fees ranging from 12 to 18 pfennigs, while some also had to provide a log of wood during winter.

What people wore

The high value of clothing and tailoring

Clothing was highly valuable, often made to measure by tailors, and could be pawned to raise funds quickly. A typical working man's entire wardrobe might be worth only a few shillings to a pound.

Music

Town pipers performed music from towers

Civic musicians known as Stadtpfeifer regularly performed music from church towers and town hall balconies, often using loud brass and wind instruments like the cornett, sackbut, and shawm.

At the table

Grains and vegetables as staples

For ordinary families, grains served as the foundation of the diet in the form of porridges or coarse breads. Vegetables such as turnips, cabbage, and onions were essential daily staples, often cooked with lard or bacon.