Louis II of Hungary

What people wore

Men's daily attire and footwear

Men traditionally wore shirts with trousers or breeches, and in colder weather, they donned the suba, a long, fur-lined, buttoned cloak. While leather boots began to appear due to Ottoman influence, working in the fields often required simple laced sandals called bocskor.

Daily life

Rural Home Heating and Construction

In the central lowlands, a new type of oven heated from the base of the chimney became common in rural homes. These houses were primarily constructed from wood, making fire a constant hazard.

Work

Workplace Hiring and Hours

Workers were often hired at designated marketplaces; they were paid daily or weekly, but never received higher wages for night or Sunday work, and they generally did not work on Sundays or holidays.

Music

Instruments used in secular-style music performances

In the early 16th century, musicians described heavenly music as being accompanied by fiddle, lute, drum, and cimbalom.

At the table

Wine-mixed water for safety

Water was rarely consumed pure and was usually mixed with wine, as clean drinking water was not always available in towns.

Getting around

High-speed travel with the Kocs carriage

In the 15th and 16th centuries, travelers in Hungary could reach speeds of 75 kilometers per day using the innovative, internationally recognized Hungarian carriage known as the Kocs carriage. This carriage was so efficient that a trip from Vienna to Buda could be completed in just one day and one night.

What it cost

Daily Wages for Workers

In 1501, a common daily wage for workers in Nagyszeben was 10 denars.