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John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein

Haderslevhus, 9 Jul 1583 – Moscow, 28 Oct 1602

8 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 9 Jul 1583

    Born in Haderslevhus

  2. 28 Oct 1602

    Dies in Moscow, aged 19

Family

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Parents

During his lifetime

He lived through 3 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Haderslevhus.

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

The 1580s · John, is born in Haderslevhus

In the news1580–1581

Spanish Pip epidemic kills many

An infectious disease known locally as the Spanish Pip caused high mortality across the Nordic region, including killing a third of the population on Nordstrand.

Getting around

Perilous boat crossings of the Belt

Crossing the Great Belt could be treacherous, requiring passengers to hire rowboats and sometimes wait days for calm weather, while ice might necessitate passengers walking on frozen patches.

In the news1583–1585

Deadly epidemic hits Copenhagen

A severe typhus-like epidemic hit Copenhagen in 1583, leading to an average of 46 deaths per day in August.

Daily life

Lighting homes with pine splinters

In many households, people used resinous pine splinters called "stikved" for light, which could even be held in the mouth to keep both hands free while working. Ordinary people often relied solely on the glow from the open hearth after dark.

What people wore

Shoemaker workshop attire in 1583

In a 1583 stained-glass window from Odense, a master shoemaker is depicted in a tight doublet and hose with yellow trimmings and a matching yellow ruff. His workers, meanwhile, were shown wearing modest white linen shirts, black aprons, and pleated neck ruffs.

Music

Noble Dances and Festive Performances

Dancing was a central part of nobility education, featuring the stately pavane, the cheerful chain-dance called bransle, and the gaillarde, an improvised leaping dance in 6/8 time. In 1577, a popular "fool's dance" was performed at the Copenhagen Castle courtyard for the King and his guests.

At the table

Children drank beer instead of water

Because clean water was often unsafe to drink, almost everyone, including children, drank beer with their meals. It was usually weak and often quite sour.