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Mary Magdalene of Nassau-Siegen

Oberes Schloss, 21 Oct 1623 – Spa, 30 Aug 1647

7 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 21 Oct 1623

    Born in Oberes Schloss

  2. 18 Aug 1640

    A daughter is born

  3. 30 Aug 1647

    Dies in Spa, aged 23

Family

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Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Oberes Schloss.

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

The 1620s · Mary is born in Oberes Schloss

In the news1618–1648

Destruction of the Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War, lasting from 1618 to 1648, caused a demographic catastrophe where roughly one-third of urban residents and two-fifths of the rural population perished. Soldiers and camp followers frequently destroyed crops and seized food, leading to widespread famine and forcing villagers to abandon their land.

Getting around

Travel Speeds Were Generally Very Slow

Typical travelers, often delayed by weather, poor roads, or cargo, were generally happy to cover 100 kilometers in a week.

In the news1628

Antwerp plague thanksgiving in 1628

The city of Antwerp ordered a public thanksgiving in 1628 to celebrate its deliverance from a plague.

Daily life

Difficult access to clean water

Accessing safe drinking water was difficult; people often relied on ditches or rivers, which were contaminated by sewage and waste. Some used specialized cisterns to collect rainwater for drinking, keeping it separate from non-potable water.

What people wore

Bavarian laws restricted everyday clothing materials

In 1626, Bavarian law strictly forbade common people, laborers, and farmers from wearing expensive fabrics like crimson-dyed cloth, gold or silver trimmings, or silk ribbons. Farmers were instead directed to use domestic wool, sheepskin, or calfskin and were permitted only simple linen collars without lace or fringe.

Music

Weekly Music in Villages

In rural villages, musicians and singers performed church music every Sunday, and they even held dance events in local taverns.

At the table

Salted Herring as a Daily Staple

Salted herring was a vital, affordable protein source for ordinary people, with a single fish costing 2 alb. It served as a staple alongside bread and cheese to supplement grain-based diets.