Maria Leopoldine of Austria

Maria Leopoldine of Austria-Tyrol was by birth Archduchess of Austria and member of the Tyrolese branch of the House of Habsburg and by marriage the second spouse of her first cousin, Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. As such, she was Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, German queen and queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia. She died in childbirth, aged 17.

Women's Daily and Festive Headwear

Peasant women often wore their hair in two braids pinned with a broad needle and kept a straw hat with a black border on their heads throughout the entire day, even during meals. For Sundays and feasts, women upgraded their attire with lace-trimmed caps and felt hats.

Strict Laws Regulated Everyday Clothing

Sumptuary laws strictly regulated attire, prohibiting ordinary people from wearing items like silk, velvet, silver-embroidered items, or pearls to maintain social hierarchy. Clothing for commoners was limited to basic wool, linen, and leather materials, with shoes costing no more than 10 or 12 florins.

Musical instruments at noble gatherings

At social gatherings of the nobility, people entertained themselves by dancing, playing games, and performing music on pairs of instruments such as the lute and viol, or cornetto and drum.

Domestic music in early 17th-century Austria

The Linzer Orgeltabulatur, compiled between 1611 and 1613, contains 108 pieces that were intended for domestic recreation on the regal, a small reed-organ, rather than for church use.

Difficult road conditions caused frequent repairs

Travelers faced rough, unpaved roads where wagon axles often required frequent mechanical adjustments during a single trip.

Walking was the primary mode of travel

Most ordinary people traveled exclusively on foot, typically covering 20 to 35 kilometers per day depending on the terrain.

Kitchen as shared living space

The kitchen served as the primary living and heating space in farmhouses, and at night, it was common to shelter poultry indoors to keep them safe.

Traditional open-fire smoke kitchens

In the 17th century, kitchens featured open fire pits where smoke blackened the room; food was prepared in iron or brass pots suspended over the fire using a metal support called a Drudenfuß.

Beer as the daily beverage

Beer was the everyday drink for most people, whereas wine was largely reserved for festivities, formal occasions, or as a component of wages for court staff.

Festive deep-fried treats

For celebrations, families might enjoy deep-fried pastries like Nonnenfürzle, which were made from dough cooked in hot fat and dusted with sugar.

Cost of a pair of shoes

A soldier's shoes with a simple sole cost 5 Batzen, while those with a double sole cost 7 Batzen.

Mercenary wages and food prices

A mercenary's monthly wage was 4 Gulden, which had to cover food and equipment for himself and his family. A pound of bacon cost 6 Kreuzer, while a pound of butter cost 1 Batzen.

Daily travel distances for messengers

Foot messengers in this era could typically walk between 25 and 40 kilometres in a single day. Specialized runners were even capable of covering more than 60 kilometres daily.

Rural cottage industry and outwork

In regions like the Waldviertel, up to 30,000 rural residents performed outwork, with women primarily doing the labour-intensive spinning of cotton. Entrepreneurs used this system to keep wage costs low, sometimes employing children for manufacturing tasks.

Cost of sending letters

The cost for sending a letter was 6 kr for a full sheet, which was equivalent to the price of a loaf of bread, while a half-sheet cost 3 kr.

Legs of the community carriers

Ordinary people often relied on itinerant workers, students, and peddlers, known as the legs of the community, to carry messages while traveling.