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Charles II, Archduke of Austria

Vienna, 3 Jun 1540 – Graz, 10 Jul 1590

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 3 Jun 1540

    Born in Vienna

  2. 1573–1588

    6 children are born

  3. 10 Jul 1590

    Dies in Graz, aged 50

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 6

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Vienna.

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

The 1540s · Charles is born in Vienna

In the news1540

Vienna's first plague ordinance established

To combat the plague, Vienna established its first official infection ordinance in 1540 to organize isolation and public health measures.

Getting around

Travel by horse or donkey

While wealthy individuals traveled on horseback, those wishing to show humility often chose to ride a donkey.

In the news1545

Introduction of drawbar wagons

In 1545, new vehicles called drawbar wagons (Deichselwägen) began to be used in the area above the Enns.

Daily life

Sleeping arrangements for children

People often slept together in one room, and children sometimes slept in roll-out beds tucked under the large, curtained beds of their parents.

What people wore

Daily versus festive peasant wear

Peasant women wore a fine linen blouse called a harbene Pfoad on feast days, but used a coarse linen blouse known as a rupferne Pfoad for everyday work. Many peasant dresses were notably shorter than town styles, frequently stopping at mid-calf to allow for easier movement.

Music

Instruments for Civic Parties

Instruments depicted at a 1522 civic garden party included shawms, bombards, slide trumpets, lutes, flutes, bagpipes, and large drums. These ensembles were common for dance music in urban settings.

At the table

Weekly routine of peasant meals

In rural areas, families frequently followed a set weekly schedule, such as Monday for dumplings, Tuesday for noodles, and Wednesday for strudels. Friday and Saturday were designated fast days in accordance with religious tradition.