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VitrineVitrine

Princess Wilhelmine Ernestine of Denmark

Copenhagen, 20 Jun 1650 – Castle Lichtenburg, 22 Apr 1706

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 20 Jun 1650

    Born in Copenhagen

  2. 22 Apr 1706

    Dies in Castle Lichtenburg, aged 55

During her lifetime

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

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

The 1650s · Princess is born in Copenhagen

In the news1659

Plague epidemic strikes Denmark in 1659

A plague epidemic broke out in 1659, causing the death of 25% to 30% of the population.

Getting around

Introduction of passenger mail coaches

In 1653, the Danish postal service began operating mail coaches that carried both passengers and parcels twice a week.

In the news1654

Demonstration of vacuum power

Otto von Guericke demonstrated the power of a vacuum in Regensburg using sixteen horses to pull apart two sealed hemispheres.

Daily life

Limited and Specialized Schooling

Schooling was not universal; in rural areas, children often only attended school in winter, while in places like Nyboder, boys were trained as future naval workers with rye as part of their pay.

What people wore

Everyday footwear and trousers

Peasant men often wore knickers made from tanned buckskin, and both men and women typically wore clogs for everyday and festive activities.

Music

Town musicians held exclusive performance rights

Privileged town musicians held a monopoly on all paid musical performances for citizens and farmers, often charging for their services at weddings and feasts.

At the table

Beer consumption in daily life

Beer was an essential part of the daily diet, consumed morning, afternoon, and evening by people of all social classes. Adults typically consumed at least twelve barrels of beer per year.