Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

Princess Christine Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, was a German noblewoman member of the House of Oldenburg and by marriage Duchess of Saxe-Weimar.

Amager women required eleven aprons

Women in the village of Store Magleby on Amager needed to own at least 11 different aprons to have an appropriate outfit for every occasion.

High value of silk fabric

In 1550, a carpenter stole a piece of red silk camlet fabric valued at 20 rigsdaler, illustrating the high financial value of textiles at the time.

Payment customs for public musicians

Musicians were paid set fees for performances at public events, but they often received extra coins when a plate was passed among the guests.

Popular musical instruments of the era

Common people frequently used the recorder, bagpipe, shawm, and harp, while the lute, zither, and clavichord were considered noble instruments.

Memorable royal logistics and animal transport

Large-scale royal travel was logistically demanding; for example, a 1643 trip by Prince Christian through Køge required the mobilization of 57 wagons in a single day. Another unusual journey involved a dromedary being led from Copenhagen to Køge in 1653, with a boy guiding the animal while a stableman rode alongside on a horse.

Travel by horse, wagon, and ferry

In 17th-century Denmark, people traveled between towns primarily by horse and wagon, on horseback, or on foot, as no railways or steamships existed during this period. Cross-country travel often required crossing water bodies using established ferry routes to connect the different Danish provinces.

Lack of schooling for children

Children in Nyboder received no schooling in the 17th century and were instead made to work away from home.

Open fires and smoky kitchens

Many farmhouses lacked chimneys, relying on open fires on the floor with a smoke exit hole in the roof, which made cooking smoky and eyes sore.

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Ordinary families in Denmark drank beer throughout the day, including children, because fresh water was often not available or unsafe. An adult was expected to consume at least twelve barrels of beer annually.

Daily diet relied on porridge and kale

Daily meals for ordinary people were simple and centered on staples like porridge and bread, while kale was a crucial winter vitamin source because it could survive outdoors year-round. Porridge and bread were essential parts of every meal, and meat or fish were consumed when available, often salted or dried.

Food prices in the 1640s

During the 1640s, a pound of coarse rye bread in cities cost about 3 skilling, while a goose cost approximately 20 skilling.

Wages for laborers and craftsmen

In the 1640s, a laborer typically earned about 20 skilling per day, while skilled craftsmen like masons or carpenters earned around 32 skilling.

Compulsory labor on manors

Tenant farmers were often required to perform compulsory labor for landlords, which included bringing their own tools and horses for tasks like plowing, sowing, harvesting, and transporting fuel or manure. These duties, known as servitude, could be intensive during peak farming seasons, though farmers could sometimes send a servant in their place outside of these times.

Economic disparity and side jobs

Wealthy farmers might own luxuries like silver cups and spoons, while cottars without land struggled for survival, sometimes becoming day laborers who were paid primarily in food. Despite social expectations, some peasants engaged in illicit trade, such as selling fish or goods from other countries to earn extra money.

Establishment of the Danish Postal Service

Denmark's formal postal service, established by Christian IV in 1624, connected major cities with routes like the one from Copenhagen to Hamburg. Initially, mail was mostly carried by foot, but the use of mounted riders increased significantly after 1640.