Ferdinand VII of Spain

Ferdinand VII was King of Spain and the Indies during the early 19th century, and king of the Spains during the Spanish liberal period. He reigned as a prisoner of Napoleon, in absentia, or without effective sovereignty during the periods of Spanish liberalism, 1808–1813 and 1820–1823. Before 1813, he was known as el Deseado, and after, as el Rey Felón.

Clothing as a rare, valuable commodity

Clothing was a valuable asset; poor individuals often had only two outfits, and even rags full of lice were carefully recorded to be sold at public auctions after their death.

The essential Spanish national costume

Women of all social classes wore a black skirt called a basquiña and a head-covering shawl called a mantilla when going out in public or to church, removing them immediately upon entering a home.

Guitar and Castanets in Popular Life

The guitar was the most popular instrument among ordinary people, frequently used to accompany singing and dancing at home, in streets, and at festivals. Dancers often played simple castanets held in their palms to accompany themselves during performances.

Home Parties and Popular Dances

Seguidillas and fandangos were iconic dances often held in private homes during informal parties called bailes de candil. These lively gatherings featured music from guitars, violins, and bandurrias, providing entertainment for neighborhoods.

Carriages and mule travel options

A traveler seeking economy might hire a light carriage called a volante, paying about six to nine livres per day for the machine and a mule to travel eight to ten leagues daily. Alternatively, those crossing bandit-prone areas could ride on a mule with common carriers, occupying the space otherwise used for a bale of goods.

Post riders travelled quickly between stations

Travelers could ride as post, which was the fastest and most advanced way to move around Spain, covering 36 to 48 kilometers per day on average. Riders moved between postal stations, typically 14 to 22 kilometers apart, aiming to spend only 45 minutes per league traveled.

Cooking and food reliance in modest homes

Cooking in humble homes was typically performed in a multi-use kitchen area equipped with straw chairs, a wooden table, and basic cooking utensils. Bread and wine were the primary staples, and because many poor households lacked space or fuel, people often relied on buying prepared food from vendors, such as fried fish, fritters, or chickpeas.

Dark homes and low-quality lighting

Ordinary homes were dark and often lacked glass windows, which were expensive; many families covered small window openings with oiled paper for light. Illumination at night relied on candles, which in poor households were low-quality and produced unpleasant odors and health risks.

Diet of the Laboring Poor

Poor laborers often ate soup with oil or cornmeal porridge in the morning and legumes or salted sardines at midday. Wine was considered expensive, so these families typically drank it only on feast days, sometimes to excess.

Domestic servant wages and perks

In the late 18th century, a maid working for a family typically earned 24 reales per month in addition to her meals and chocolate.

Food prices for ordinary families

Food prices varied significantly; for example, a chicken cost 8 reales, while a pound of beef or mutton cost 2 reales.

Common jobs for ordinary people

Common jobs for ordinary people included day laborers, domestic servants, and various tradespeople like shoemakers, weavers, and masons. Women frequently worked as street vendors, laundresses, and embroidery workers to support their families.

Irregular working lives and low wages

Workers often faced irregular, intermittent schedules with jobs performed in the streets rather than fixed hours. A domestic servant might only receive eight maravedís daily for food, and some laborers consumed wine to cope with their difficult, insecure lives.