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Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

Darmstadt, 4 Oct 1577 – Rheinfels Castle, 17 Jul 1626

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 4 Oct 1577

    Born in Darmstadt

  2. 1600–1609

    4 children are born

  3. 17 Jul 1626

    Dies in Rheinfels Castle, aged 48

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 4

During his lifetime

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

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

The 1570s · Louis is born in Darmstadt

In the news1572

Banking house collapse ruins economy (1572)

The collapse of the major merchant and banking house Loitz in Stettin in 1572 caused widespread economic turmoil throughout the region of Pomerania.

Getting around

Travel challenges and gate closures

Traveling was physically demanding, often on unpaved roads through forests or fields, and travelers had to reach their destination before nightfall because city gates were locked at sunset. Common travelers often struggled with bad weather and the lack of comfortable transport, making a simple journey a serious endeavor.

In the news1575

Smallpox and measles epidemic (1575)

A widespread outbreak of smallpox and measles occurred in Holstein in 1575, severely impacting the lives of local families.

Daily life

School costs in pfennigs

Families sometimes paid quarterly school fees ranging from 12 to 18 pfennigs, while some also had to provide a log of wood during winter.

What people wore

The high value of clothing and tailoring

Clothing was highly valuable, often made to measure by tailors, and could be pawned to raise funds quickly. A typical working man's entire wardrobe might be worth only a few shillings to a pound.

Music

Professional city musicians, the Stadtpfeifer

Stadtpfeifer, or city pipers, were professional musicians employed by councils to perform on towers, in dance halls, and at public festivities using instruments like shawms, sackbuts, and slide brass.

At the table

Grains and vegetables as staples

For ordinary families, grains served as the foundation of the diet in the form of porridges or coarse breads. Vegetables such as turnips, cabbage, and onions were essential daily staples, often cooked with lard or bacon.