Maria Naryshkina

Maria Antonovna Naryshkina, born Princess Maria Czetwertyńska-Światopełk, was a Polish noblewoman who was the mistress of Tsar Alexander I of Russia for 19 years.

Daily wardrobe changes for noblewomen

Wealthy Polish noblewomen changed their clothing multiple times a day, following a French-inspired division into morning, home, and outing outfits.

Daily Western wear versus national costume

Men often wore Western-style clothing for daily life but adopted the traditional Polish national costume, such as the kontusz, for political debates or social balls.

Singing and simple instruments in daily life

In the countryside, singing was a natural form of daily communication for villagers, with repertoires changing according to the seasons, church calendar, and agricultural work such as threshing grain. Instruments like willow whistles or reed pipes were simple items that rural children learned to play while tending geese.

The sound and power of church bells

Church bells were the loudest artificial sounds in villages, serving to signal religious services, mark the time of day, and warn communities of fires or approaching troops. People also believed that ringing bells could ward off storms and evil spirits in folk mythology.

Daily travel distances and speeds

Travel speeds varied significantly: walkers averaged 20-25 km per day, while those using the postal station network could cover 60-100 km daily. Conversely, transporting goods was much slower, often limited to 10-15 km per day.

Modes of transport for ordinary people

Ordinary people often traveled on foot or by horse, while less affluent travelers used a simple cart with seats known as a kolasa. Wealthier individuals used light carriages like phaetons or carriages designed for short trips.

Childhood Diet and School Meals

Children were often fed a porridge called papinek, made from flour, water, or milk, and sometimes butter, while water and weak beer were common drinks. For students at schools overseen by the Commission of National Education, daily diets were simple, typically consisting of rye bread with butter for breakfast, and soups or porridge for other meals, with meat served only on specific days.

Dwellings and Heating in the 18th Century

Commoners often lived in huts built with mud or earth, and many peasant houses lacked chimneys, meaning smoke escaped through roof holes. In contrast, noble houses were designed with a central hall, dining room, and separated rooms, often featuring tiled stoves for heating.

Commoners' diet: buckwheat and fermented cabbage

For the middle-class diet, buckwheat groats were considered a delicacy and were used to make a type of cake called tatarczuchy. Additionally, peas and vegetables like cabbage, which was fermented in hollowed-out tree trunks, were staples.

Potatoes and children's porridge habits

Potatoes began to appear in middle-class gardens in the second half of the 18th century, though they initially faced resistance because people feared they were harmful to health. Children's diets often relied on porridges, such as millet, which was considered healthier for them than meat.

Annual income of a craftsman

An average craftsman in Kraków earned 465 Polish złotys per year during the reign of Stanisław August Poniatowski (1764–1795).

Cost of basic goods

In the late 18th century, a pair of shoes cost 3 Polish złotys, while a pound of pork cost 7 groszy and a bushel of peas cost 8 złotys.

Common jobs in rural Poland

Most peasants worked on manor lands as serfs, performing labor for the lord, but many also supplemented their income through weaving, transport services, and petty trade.

Common Jobs in Rural Prussia

Common jobs included small farmers, farm servants on annual contracts, day laborers, and specialized tradespeople like millers, tavern keepers, blacksmiths, and butchers. Many rural families also engaged in cottage industries like weaving to supplement their income.