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Maria Caterina Brignole

Genoa, 7 Oct 1737 – Wimbledon House, 18 Mar 1813

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born7 Oct 1737, Genoanot verified1 source
  • Died18 Mar 1813, Wimbledon Housenot verified1 source
  • FatherGiuseppe Brignolenot verified1 source
  • MotherMaria Anna Balbinot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 7 Oct 1737

    Born in Genoa

  2. 18 Mar 1813

    Dies in Wimbledon House, aged 75

Family

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Parents

Partner

During her lifetime

She lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Genoa.

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

The 1730s · Maria is born in Genoa

In the news1734

French forces re-occupy Modena in 1734

In July 1734, French and Piedmontese troops occupied Modena, causing Duke Rinaldo to retreat to Bologna for three years until 1736.

Getting around

Travel by foot, mule, or carriage

For most people, travel between towns along the mountainous Via Vandelli was done on foot, horseback, or by mule, while only the flatter Emilian stretch could accommodate carriages. A full journey between Modena and Massa took about one week, even with postal service arrangements.

In the news1739

The Hard Winter 1739

The hard winter of 1739 brought extreme weather that caused rising poor rates, widespread destitution, and higher mortality rates.

Daily life

Washing and water access in rural homes

Rural kitchens lacked modern sinks, so dishes were washed outside in the courtyard or under a porch using buckets and basins. Water was often drawn from a well located under the porch, where it was also used to water livestock.

What people wore

Poor citizens wore cheap cloth slippers

In 18th-century Modena, the poor frequently wore cloth slippers, which were extremely cheap and easily made from scrap materials.

Music

Music in streets and squares

Outdoor public events featured brass and percussion musicians who accompanied processions and rituals in streets and squares. These performances blended with the sounds of the crowd, creating a conversational atmosphere shared across different social groups.

At the table

Bread as the common staple food

While nobles enjoyed refined breads, the main daily food for common people was bread made from grain, often in the form of simple, rustic focaccias.