In the news1738
Introduction of road labor corvee
In 1738, the crown introduced the corvee, a system of forced labor requiring peasants to build and maintain the royal roads.
Versailles, 16 May 1736 – Royal abbey of Fontevraud, 28 Sep 1744
7 facts1 source
16 May 1736
Born in Versailles
28 Sep 1744
Dies in Royal abbey of Fontevraud, aged 8
She lived through 2 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Versailles.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1738
In 1738, the crown introduced the corvee, a system of forced labor requiring peasants to build and maintain the royal roads.
At the table
Scarcity and Alternative Food Sources
Ordinary families consumed very little meat, typically limited to pork, lard, or sheep tripe. During harsh times or shortages, the rural poor were forced to supplement their diet with wild plants like ferns, acorns, or grass.
What people wore
Carefully Patched Clothing
Respectable poor individuals often wore carefully patched cast-off clothing, where the patches were chosen to match the original faded fabric.
Getting around
Travel by mule
A trip between San Remo and Genoa over 90 miles could take three days on muleback due to narrow, rugged mountain paths.
What it cost
Daily wages for ordinary workers
In the mid-18th century, a rural laborer typically earned about 16 sols per day, while city workers could earn between 10 and 30 sols. A full day's work was often required just to afford bread for the family.
Music
Public concert series started in Paris
Starting in 1725, Parisians could attend public concerts organized by the Concert Spirituel society, which performed in the Tuileries Gardens when the Opéra was closed for religious festivals.
Daily life
Limited schooling for rural children
Many rural parishes lacked schools entirely, and for those that existed, instruction was often limited to basic reading, writing, and the catechism. It was common for the local parish priest to conduct classes, though schooling for girls was significantly rarer than for boys.