Sophie Dorothee of Württemberg

Mariya Feodorovna, born Duchess Sophie Dorothee of Württemberg, became Empress of Russia as the second wife of Emperor Paul I. She founded the Office of the Institutions of Empress Maria.

Everyday Undergarments of Women

Fashionable women wore a white, long, and wide shirt called a domieszka as everyday undergarment, while young women often did not wear panties, leaving them for older generations. These shifts were crafted from materials like Dutch linen, muslin, or cambric, and decorated with lace and embroidery.

Restricted Movement in Tight Prussian Uniforms

Prussian soldiers wore tight uniforms and white linen summer breeches that were so fitted they risked splitting if the wearer moved suddenly. They were required to keep their hair powdered, pulled back with a ribbon, and were never seen without their gaiters.

Dance styles in Königsberg during the 1700s

During the mid-18th century in Königsberg, balls featured minuets and gavottes, and popular masquerades included polonaises and quadrilles.

Musical instruments used in local ensembles

Music ensembles at a boarding school in Slutsk regularly used instruments like trumpets, French horns, oboes, violins, and kettledrums purchased in Königsberg.

Common vs. noble travel methods

Ordinary travelers used simple carts without springs called calèches or kolasa, while wealthy nobles moved in large caravans of dozens of wagons, sometimes accompanied by exotic animals like camels.

Poor conditions of road inns

Inns were notoriously filthy and poorly equipped, forcing many travelers to sleep on straw in rooms shared with peasants or to camp in fields.

Compulsory Schooling for Children

Compulsory education was established for children aged five to fourteen, though in practice attendance varied, and instruction often focused on religion and obedience. Schooling was rudimentary; children typically learned reading and writing, sometimes practicing by writing with chalk on large wooden boards, while arithmetic instruction was very basic.

Hard Labor: Preparing Winter Fuel

In some rural areas, families bundled green pine branches into small, straw-tied packages called Kulelkes to fuel their wide ovens during the winter. A child might be required to chop and tie nine of these bundles every evening after school to ensure the home remained heated.

Meager peasant diet of bread and cereal

Peasant families typically survived on a meager diet consisting of black bread and cereals, often eaten without any added fat. Plain water was their primary beverage.

Mutton served to domestic workers

While beef and veal were preferred by the gentry, mutton was considered less desirable and was frequently served to domestic staff.

Earnings of skilled journeymen in Berlin

A journeyman craftsman such as a tailor, mason, or carpenter in Berlin typically earned 8 to 9 Taler per month.

Fluctuating price of rye bread grain

In Berlin, a rye bushel (Scheffel, approx. 40kg) typically cost 19 to 20 Groschen, but rose to over 2 Taler during the hunger year of 1771.

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.

Memorable Facts on Specialized Trades

A village butcher in Ciepłowody earned 3 silver groschen for every slaughtered pig and 5 silver groschen for every head of cattle. Tavern keepers were often required to purchase and sell beer exclusively from the manorial brewery, paying fees such as 8 silver groschen per barrel.