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William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel

Kassel, 23 May 1629 – Kloster Haina, 16 Jul 1663

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 23 May 1629

    Born in Kassel

  2. 1650–1661

    4 children are born

  3. 16 Jul 1663

    Dies in Kloster Haina, aged 34

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 4

During his lifetime

He lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Kassel.

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

The 1620s · William is born in Kassel

In the news1618–1648

Destruction of the Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War, lasting from 1618 to 1648, caused a demographic catastrophe where roughly one-third of urban residents and two-fifths of the rural population perished. Soldiers and camp followers frequently destroyed crops and seized food, leading to widespread famine and forcing villagers to abandon their land.

At the table

Daily porridge served as the staple meal

Porridge was the primary daily meal, often cooked in large batches and reheated, leading to a tough consistency. Ordinary families ate it by reaching into a shared bowl with their hands.

What people wore

Men's fashion favored comfort and leather boots

During the Thirty Years' War, men's fashion shifted toward comfort, featuring high-waisted doublets and wide, knee-length breeches that fell in loose folds. Soldiers and educated men alike popularized large leather boots that reached above the knee, which were often worn turned down or slouching.

Getting around

Walking and Riding Were Common Travel Methods

Most people traveled on foot, taking an average of 30,000 to 40,000 steps per day, while wealthy individuals typically traveled on horseback.

What it cost

Cost of footwear around 1620

A pair of men's shoes in 1620 Schaumburg cost 17 Mariengroschen, and in 1622 Pomerania, simple shoes cost 20 Schilling.

Music

Regulated Wedding Celebrations

Weddings were the most significant lifetime celebrations, with music, guest lists, and food heavily regulated according to the social status of the families involved.

Daily life

Water access and heating systems

Wealthier households had private wells with pumps, but many town dwellers relied on public rivers or town ditches, which were often contaminated by waste. Some stoves featured built-in water cisterns that provided hot water for daily tasks.