Miguel I of Portugal

Dom Miguel I, known by several nicknames, but mainly “the usurper“, was King of Portugal from 1828 to 1834. He was the son of King John VI and Queen Carlota Joaquina.

Fishermen's daily and festive attire

Fishermen wore wide linen drawers to the knee secured by silver buttons, a wool cap, and a sleeveless vest called a sertum while working. On Sundays and feast days, they wore blue cloth trousers, vests, and jackets, often accessorized with large silver shoe buckles.

Peasant dress in Torres Vedras

Peasants in Torres Vedras typically wore jackets thrown over the shoulder, red waistcoats, and short blue breeches with loose drawers reaching the calf. Both sexes often went barefoot, though brown tanned boots were sometimes used.

Grand religious music festivals

Church ceremonies were often grand, with musicians sometimes playing instrumental music or even operatic-style airs, reflecting a mix of devotion and entertainment.

Nuns as skilled musicians

Nuns in monasteries were skilled musicians who played instruments like the organ, harpsichord, and harp, and they sometimes commissioned and performed complex concertato music.

Lisbon to Coimbra by post carriage

In 1804, a post carriage (mala-posta) route between Lisbon and Coimbra took 40 hours, but the service was suspended shortly after due to high costs and low profits.

Introduction of the Mala-posta Stagecoach

In 1798, a new public stagecoach service known as the mala-posta was established between Lisbon and Coimbra to improve travel for people and mail.

Typical urban housing and layout

Urban houses often had a functional layout where the kitchen was placed on the top floor, partly for safety against fire, while ground floors were used for shops or workshops. Living quarters were often cramped, with high buildings blocking sunlight and providing poor insulation against the weather.

Water access and cooking methods

Water was scarce and expensive, sometimes costing twenty times more than in London, and was often collected from public fountains or wells. Cooking for many poor families was done over three stones, as indoor fireplaces were relatively rare in the Portuguese climate.

Communal eating in rural families

Families in rural areas often ate together from a single large red clay dish containing vegetables, potatoes, and sometimes fried bacon or sardines.

Cost of meals in Lisbon

In Lisbon, workers often bought meals at taverns, where a complete meal could cost around 80 réis, while a snack of sardines in a street stall might cost 10 réis.

Staple foods in early 1800s Penafiel

In the early 19th century town of Penafiel, essential goods such as wheat and corn were recorded as consumer staples.

Ox meat prices in Porto

In Porto, the price of ox meat rose from 36 réis per arrátel in 1780 to 47 réis by 1783, eventually reaching 63 réis by 1798.