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Leopoldine Hofmann, Baroness of Waideck

Krems, 29 Nov 1842 – Rainier Palace, 29 Nov 1891

9 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 29 Nov 1842

    Born in Krems

  2. 29 Nov 1891

    Dies in Rainier Palace, aged 49

Family

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Parents

Partner

During her lifetime

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

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

The 1840s · Leopoldine is born in Krems

In the news1848

Abolition of serfdom in 1848

The law for the final abolition of serfdom was passed on September 7, 1848, ending a feudal system that had existed for over 1,000 years.

Getting around

Railways drastically cut travel times

The introduction of railways significantly reduced travel time, such as the journey from Vienna to Graz dropping from twenty-nine hours by coach to nine hours by train.

In Europe1845–1852

The Great Famine in Ireland

Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.

Daily life

Cooking without stoves or ovens

Cooking was performed on an open fire without a stove or oven, meaning roasted dishes and cakes were not part of the standard menu. All household tasks were carried out by human or animal muscle power without the aid of machines.

What people wore

Infant Swaddling and Dress

Infants were kept in a swaddling pillow for several months to ensure they would grow straight, a practice that prevented them from moving or kicking. As young children, boys were dressed in the same types of garments as girls.

Music

Viennese waltz: A controversial partner dance

The Viennese waltz evolved from the regional Ländler dance and became a popular, albeit controversial, ballroom partner dance that allowed close physical contact between couples. During court balls, Archduke Ferdinand famously ordered that each waltz should last exactly eight minutes.

At the table

Refreshing drinks and ice for everyone

While the wealthy enjoyed fruit ice cream in cafes, the common population could only access it starting in the 1860s, when street vendors sold portions served in cups and spoons made of edible hard dough. During hot summers, poor women who could not afford wine frequently drank water mixed with vinegar for refreshment.