In the news1804
The 1804 Civil Code enactment
The Civil Code, enacted in 1804, established a new legal framework that standardized civil laws across France, significantly impacting daily life.
Château de Sully, 13 Jun 1808 – Montcresson, 17 Oct 1893
15 facts3 sources
13 Jun 1808
Born in Château de Sully
10 Jun 1855
A son is born
1864–1870
Governor of Algeria
1873–1879
President of the French Republic
1873–1879
French co-prince of Andorra
1874
Pilgrimage
17 Oct 1893
Dies in Montcresson, aged 85
He lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Château de Sully.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1804
The Civil Code, enacted in 1804, established a new legal framework that standardized civil laws across France, significantly impacting daily life.
Getting around
Slow and expensive travel across France
Between 1800 and 1824, land travel was slow and expensive; a journey across France could take 20 to 30 days on foot or by slow carriage. Transporting a ton of goods from Paris to Marseille cost around 250 francs, roughly the annual wage of an unskilled laborer.
At the table
Coffee and Its Expensive Substitutes
Coffee became a widely popular staple despite being expensive, with prices soaring during the Continental Blockade to five francs per pound. Due to this scarcity, people attempted to create local substitutes using roasted acorns, peas, or carrots.
In Europe · 1803–1815The Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s armies redrew the map of Europe from Spain to Moscow; his invasion of Portugal sent its court to Rio de Janeiro.
What people wore
Poverty dictated clothing recycling and repair
Common people relied heavily on second-hand markets and repairing worn garments, as purchasing a complete new outfit was an exceptional financial event. Because laundry was infrequent and clothing was limited, many rural workers appeared in dull, monochromatic outfits, often going barefoot during the warm season.
Music
Village dancing with pipe and tabor
The pipe and tabor were common instruments used for village dances, and travelers often observed young people dancing to this music in meadows or at festivals.
Daily life
The daily struggle for water
Because water was not piped into most homes, families relied on water carriers to bring it from rivers or public fountains, or they had to fetch it themselves from wells. Drinking water was often not potable, so people frequently filtered rainwater or bought bottled mineral water if they were wealthy.