Countess Karoline Ernestine of Erbach-Schönberg

What people wore

Prussian Soldier Clothing Allowances

Prussian soldiers were entitled to annual small clothing issues including two pairs of shoes, two shirts, and linen trousers, costing 5 thalers, 6 groschen, and 2 pfennigs, often deducted from their pay. Old uniforms were frequently repurposed into nightcaps and chest cloths by non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

Getting around

Difficulties of traveling on Prussian roads

In the 18th century, travel in Prussia was notoriously difficult due to poor roads, with some passengers joking that they could have walked faster than the carriage. A coachman could even abandon a passenger on the road if the passenger struck them or complained too aggressively.

At the table

Beverages of Ordinary People

Ordinary people typically drank beer for sustenance and at social gatherings, while coffee began to gain popularity among some segments of the population toward the middle of the century. Barley coffee was also used as a common beverage for afternoon snacks.

Music

Fiddlers earned Nickelgrosken at village celebrations

Fiddlers were central to village life and were paid for their services at weddings and parties with small coins known as Nickelgrosken.

Daily life

Simple peasant and town housing

Common peasant homes were simple one or two-room timber-framed structures, often dominated by a central hearth used for both warmth and cooking meals like bread and potatoes. In some planned towns, houses were built without cellars and partitioned into two equal living spaces to accommodate two families each.

Work

Working day hours and duration

During summer harvest, Frondienst labor requirements could last from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. In other seasons, work hours were strictly regulated, ranging from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in spring and autumn, to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter.