In the news1695
Hospice for the Poor established in 1695
In 1695, Duke Rinaldo I established the Hospice for the Poor to manage the large influx of beggars and unemployed people in the city of Modena.
Turin, 10 Dec 1694 – 20 Mar 1762
7 facts1 source
10 Dec 1694
Born in Turin
20 Mar 1762
Dies, aged 67
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Turin.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1695
In 1695, Duke Rinaldo I established the Hospice for the Poor to manage the large influx of beggars and unemployed people in the city of Modena.
Getting around
Mountain travel and daily distances
Alpine crossings required switching to mules or porters because carriage roads often ended at the base of the mountains. Travelers covering long distances usually managed about 20 to 40 kilometers per day.
In the news1690–1699
Due to war-related requisitions and bad harvests starting in 1690, families in the mountainous Tarentaise and Maurienne provinces were reduced to eating ground shells and nuts mixed with small amounts of oats or barley.
Daily life
Education and social life
While public education systems were introduced by 1661, daily social interaction for the rural population primarily took place in stables during the evening, which served as a shared space for work and exchange.
What people wore
Everyday peasant clothing
Simple peasants wore sturdy, locally-made garments of brown or white wool and stiff cloth for everyday tasks.
Music
Hurdy-gurdy as a popular folk instrument
The hurdy-gurdy was a common instrument used by ordinary people for centuries to accompany singing, dancing, and popular entertainment. It was also famously associated with Savoyard street performers and children who traveled across Europe with their music and puppets.
At the table
Simple Daily Meals and Rare Meat
For many ordinary people, the daily meal was simple and focused on survival, often consisting of dark bread, wine, and soups made with vegetables like cabbage, turnips, or onions. Meat was a rare luxury, eaten mostly during festivals or when money allowed.