Oscar I of Sweden

Oscar I was King of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 until his death in 1859. He was the second monarch of the House of Bernadotte.

Post-Revolution women wore thin, simple gowns

Following the Reign of Terror, fashionable Parisian women adopted simple, transparent flowing gowns with high waistlines and heelless slippers, sometimes causing illness due to the cold.

Sans-culottes wore trousers as a badge of honor

During the French Revolution, working-class men known as sans-culottes distinguished themselves by wearing long trousers instead of the tight knee breeches worn by the nobility.

Music as a daily hobby for everyone

Music was a favorite pastime for all social classes, with many amateurs playing or singing at home, while piano, harp, and singing were particularly popular in wealthy households.

Handwritten dance music manuscripts for families

Young people in wealthy families kept handwritten manuscript books of dances, such as quadrilles, waltzes, and bourrées, to enjoy and practice during leisure time.

Dangerous conditions on poorly maintained roads

Travelers in carriages sometimes had to pay local peasants to walk alongside and support the carriage to prevent it from tipping over on flooded or muddy roads. In severe weather, travelers were occasionally forced to wait for days in miserable inns until conditions improved.

Fast winter mountain descent by sled

Adventurous travelers crossing the Alps at Mont-Cenis in winter could descend into France on a sled in a 15-minute thrill ride called the ramasse. The sleds were guided by a conductor who steered the craft down the snowy slopes at high speed.

Divergent paths for children's schooling

Bourgeois children were taught reading, writing, and sometimes music by their mothers, then sent to primary school at age six. In contrast, rural children often began working in the garden or farmyard at age seven, while poor urban children performed odd jobs like shoe shining or worked in factories.

Modest homes and simple furnishings

Most rural families lived in modest homes of two to three rooms, often sleeping in a single bed. In cities, apartments were larger, featuring parquet floors, wallpaper, and window drapes for those who could afford them.

Bread Rationing During the Revolution

During the Revolution, bread was rationed and sold for 14 sous per 60 grams, often of such poor quality that even sheepdogs would refuse to eat it.

Common Drinks: Wine and Beer

Wine was the most common drink, often cut with water to improve its taste because well water was frequently contaminated. Beer also gained popularity in various regions, and in some areas, was even favored over wine.

Cost of Luxury Goods

Luxury goods were quite expensive compared to wages; for example, a pair of boots cost 18 francs in 1801, and a kilogram of sugar cost 4 francs.

Cost of Necessities

Basic food and clothing prices included bread at 30 centimes, meat at 70 centimes per pound, and a pair of shoes for 5 francs in 1805.

Common jobs in early 19th-century France

Most ordinary people worked in agriculture, while urban workers were typically merchants, skilled artisans like carpenters and blacksmiths, or unskilled laborers.

The long daily grind of workers

The workday typically began at sunrise and lasted over 11 hours, with work often continuing until dusk depending on the season. In Paris, laborers would start their day by grabbing a coffee with milk from street vendors for 2 sous before heading to their workshops.