Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg

What people wore

Everyday and Sunday Best Clothing

Most people owned at least two sets of clothing, keeping one for everyday work and another cleaner set for church and social events. Clothing was frequently patched and mended, with garments and good linen undergarments often bequeathed to heirs.

Daily life

Small, dark peasant homes housing livestock

Ordinary peasant homes were typically small, dark, two-room huts made from materials like mud and straw, often featuring dirt floors and thatched roofs with few or no windows to keep out the cold. In many households, it was common to bring livestock inside during the winter to keep them warm and safe.

Work

Daily wages for laborers in Zwickau

Day laborers in Zwickau performing tasks like weeding or planting hops earned 8 pfennige per day with board, or 16 pfennige without it.

Music

Rural Music and Dance Instruments

Travelers often brought diverse instruments to rural areas, including the dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, shawm, and bagpipes to accompany community festivities. In these settings, people often danced in circles, sometimes singing traditional songs without instrumental accompaniment.

At the table

Regional bread preferences in Germany

In northern regions, dark sourdough rye bread was the staple food, while in the south, laborers expected lighter bread made from wheat.

Getting around

Traveling primarily on foot

Most ordinary people traveled on foot, covering about 20 to 30 kilometers per day, as they could not afford horses or carriages.

What it cost

Soldier pay and equipment costs

A Landsknecht soldier earned 4 gulden per month in 1507, but had to pay for his own food, clothing, and equipment, which included a full suit of armor costing 16 gulden.