Gustavus Carlson

Count Gustaf Carlson was a nobleman and military officer. He was the eldest illegitimate son of Charles X Gustav of Sweden and his mistress Märta Allertz.

Strict fashion laws for commoners

During the 1600s, Swedish commoners were strictly forbidden from using silk fabrics or other exclusive materials in public, with violators facing fines or imprisonment on bread and water.

Dances at social gatherings

While dances like the minuet were associated with the upper class and graceful, dainty steps, common people in the countryside frequently performed the Polska dance at festivals. Social gatherings were often characterized by both music and dancing as central activities.

Popular instruments of the people

Popular instruments among ordinary people included the stem pipe, horn, nyckelharpa (key harp), and drums. String instruments like the violin and lute were also frequently played in domestic settings.

Postal workers maintained a strict, rapid pace

Postal workers were required to travel at a brisk pace of 10 kilometers every two hours, with journeys typically taking between 6 and 15 hours depending on weather.

Horseback travel was standard for long distances

Because roads were narrow, rocky, and often muddy, people typically traveled between towns on horseback rather than in wheeled carriages.

Limited schooling and early work life

Most children did not attend formal schools; instead, they received basic religious instruction at home from their parents or the church to learn to read the Bible and the catechism. When schools did exist, they were insufficient for the general population, and for many, childhood was primarily defined by work and helping parents in their trade or daily tasks.

Simple homes with limited light

Homes were often simple, small wooden structures with tiny windows, and in many cases, windows were even nailed shut to conserve heat. Because glass was rare and expensive, lighting was provided by tallow or wax candles on brass or tin candle plates.

Everyday meals of pea soup and beer

Everyday meals often featured pea soup, bread, porridge, and boiled turnips, typically accompanied by pork or fish and plenty of weak beer. Beer was consumed in large quantities, often three to four liters per day, as it was safer to drink than the available water.

Warm beer as a staple drink

A traditional morning drink was warm beer, sometimes served as a soup called ölsupa, made from warm beer, milk, and flour. People also flavored their daily beer with ingredients like wormwood, blackthorn, or rosemary to improve health and add flavor.

Price of bread and meat in Ångermanland

In Ångermanland, a single loaf of bread was valued at 2 öre, while 1 liter of meat cost 24 öre.

Value of clothing items

Stolen trousers were valued at 6 or 8 öre, reflecting the high cost of clothing items in the 16th century.

Daily wages for workers in the 1600s

In August, a worker could earn 12 öre for a nine-hour workday, while a full 12-hour day paid more.

Long shifts at the ironworks

In ironworks, workers often toiled in shifts, working for 3 hours and resting for 3 hours, around the clock. During lighter months, the workday could span from 5 in the morning until 7 in the evening.

The cost of a letter

By 1693, sending a letter of about 13 grams between Stockholm and Helsingborg cost 18 öre in copper coin, which was equivalent to the price of two jugs of beer. Private citizens gained the right to use the public post for this fee during the 1620s.

Post farmers ran with the mail

Letters were carried by post farmers, who had to run or walk at least 5 kilometers per hour between stations. They were strictly forbidden from talking along the way and had to deliver mail day and night without delay.