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John Frederick II of Saxony

Torgau, 18 Jan 1529 – Schloss Lamberg, 9 May 1595

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 18 Jan 1529

    Born in Torgau

  2. 9 May 1595

    Dies in Schloss Lamberg, aged 66

Family

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Parents

Partners

During his lifetime

He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Torgau.

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

The 1520s · John is born in Torgau

In the news1524–1525

The Great Peasants' War occurs

Tens of thousands of peasants participated in a massive uprising across the German lands, demanding the abolition of feudal burdens and serfdom.

Getting around

Common modes of land travel

Most people traveled on foot, as railways and steamships did not exist, while the wealthy preferred horses or mules for their stability in mountainous terrain. Carriages were primarily reserved for women, the sick, or prisoners due to their lack of suspension and uncomfortable ride.

In the news1529

Great famine caused by crop failure

In 1529, a severe famine forced many people to make bread from acorns because the harvest failed due to wet and cold weather.

Daily life

Emergence of village schools in Hesse

Before the Reformation, village schools were reportedly non-existent in Hesse, but by 1556, visitors noted the establishment of seven village schools in the central region of the principality. Martin Luther emphasized that schools were necessary for both boys and girls to learn to conduct the affairs of life.

What people wore

Basic and durable peasant clothing

Ordinary people in the region wore basic garments made of wool or fustian, with men typically wearing tunics, hosen, and hats, while women wore dresses, aprons, and head coverings. Their clothing was functional and designed to be durable, often passed down or kept until it fell apart to maximize its investment value.

Music

Popular Wedding and Civic Musicians

In German cities around 1500, a common ensemble for weddings was the pipe and drum, with performers sometimes earning half a guilder for their services. These musicians were frequently hired alongside or to alternate with town pipers (Stadtpfeifer) who played brass instruments like shawms and trombones.

At the table

German reputation for fatty, mustard-heavy diets

Germans were known for a fatty diet, using lard and butter extensively for cooking, and were famous for smearing generous amounts of mustard on meat.