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Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur

Nancy, 19 Sep 1558 – Nuremberg, 19 Feb 1602

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 19 Sep 1558

    Born in Nancy

  2. 1582–1589

    Governor of Brittany

  3. Nov 1592

    A daughter is born

  4. 19 Feb 1602

    Dies in Nuremberg, aged 43

Family

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Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

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

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

The 1550s · Philippe is born in Nancy

In the news1545–1552

Plague epidemics devastate the region

Between 1545 and 1552, plague outbreaks caused extreme hardship, leading to deserted towns and citizens walling up infected homes.

Getting around

Royal travel took weeks to complete

A royal court journey from Paris to Chambord could take three weeks because the procession included thousands of people, animals, and entire households.

In the news1555

Peace of Augsburg enacted (1555)

The 1555 Peace of Augsburg established the legal principle that local princes could determine the religion of their subjects as either Lutheran or Catholic. If subjects disagreed with their ruler's choice, they were granted the right to emigrate with their property and families.

Daily life

Tall and narrow city housing

Ordinary Paris houses were tall, narrow structures of four or five stories, built with stone foundations, exposed wooden frames, and white plaster facades to prevent fires.

What people wore

Wine seller's attire in 1586

A 16th-century French wine seller wore a red-trimmed felt hat and a loose jacket gathered at the waist by a leather belt with a hanging money bag.

Music

Instruments classified by volume

In the 16th century, instruments were classified by volume: loud instruments like oboes, trumpets, and sackbuts were for outdoor festivals, while quiet instruments like lutes, viols, and spinets were for intimate indoor use.

At the table

Regulated prices for bread and wine

In 1550, the price of food in Valence was officially regulated, with white bread costing 7 mailles per pound and black bread costing 5 mailles per pound. Wine was also a daily drink, with local black or red wine priced at 6 deniers per pot.