Christian VII of Denmark

Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death in 1808. He was affected by mental illness and was only nominally king for most of his reign. His royal advisers changed depending on the outcome of power struggles.

Neck scarf fashion for women

By the 1730s, a square neck scarf folded into a triangle became common, with ends tucked into the bodice or jacket front.

Men's hat styles changed

Men switched from tall conical hats to low, broad-brimmed black felt hats during the 1700s.

Common Instruments for Village Dancing

Village dances commonly featured the violin as the main instrument, alongside traditional drone instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, and drums.

Minuet Popularity Among Ordinary People

In the 1740s, peasants danced the minuet at fine occasions, and authorities even caught guests dancing it at a suburban Copenhagen inn in 1736.

Slow travel and exhausted horses

Traveling by carriage was slow due to poor road conditions, and horses used for relays were often exhausted animals taken directly from farm work. Travelers frequently had to endure long journeys, such as the 6 to 7 days it took the mail coach to travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg.

Mail coach travel from Copenhagen to Roskilde

In the mid-18th century, a horse-drawn mail coach could travel from Copenhagen to Roskilde in 4 to 5 hours, covering the distance in one go, provided the roads were not muddy or prone to accidents.

Long school days and restricted access

Formal schooling for boys in Danish towns involved long days, typically running from 6:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., except on Wednesdays when it ended at 8:00 a.m. Girls were generally barred from these schools, though some were taught by female teachers who were restricted to instructing girls regardless of age.

Naval school pay in rye

At the Nyboder naval housing, school was integrated into naval service, and part of the boys' pay was 4.5 kg of rye per month. Boys entered school at 6 years old and remained until confirmation, focusing on training for future work as sailors or specialists.

Clarifying coffee with fish skin

Coffee was boiled in copper kettles and sometimes clarified with a piece of dried flounder skin, as coffee filters did not exist.

Herring was the common daily meal

For ordinary people, salted herring eaten with water porridge was the most common daily meal, often consumed morning, noon, and evening.

Cost of food in the 1740s

In the 1740s, a loaf of rye bread in Copenhagen cost between 1/3 and 2 1/3 skilling, while a pound of butter cost 10 skilling.

Day laborer earnings in Odense

A common day laborer in Odense earned 16 skilling for a 12-hour workday during summer, and 12 skilling during winter.

Travel time by carriage and foot

In the early Danish postal system, the route between Copenhagen and Hamburg used carriages, while others were served by foot messengers with a travel time of 8 days.