John VI of Portugal

Dom John VI, known as "the Clement", was King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves from 1816 to 1825, and after the recognition of Brazil's independence, titular Emperor of Brazil and King of Portugal until his death in 1826.

Fishermen kept gala outfits for generations

Fishermen wore simple linen breeches during work, but dressed in blue cloth suits for Sundays and kept their finest gala outfits for rare feast days. These precious gala sets were often passed down through generations, from parents to children and even grandchildren.

Linen saved for lifetime festive wear

Villagers painstakingly washed and bleached fine linen to store in wooden trunks, saving these materials to be hand-sewn into special feast-day clothing that would last a lifetime. In contrast, coarser tow-cloth was used for everyday work clothes, which were constantly patched by local seamstresses to maintain them.

Social Gatherings and Entertainment

Private social gatherings often featured music, dancing, and card games, with attendees enjoying tea, chocolate, and sweets. Orchestras or individual musicians were hired, and guests sometimes participated alongside professionals; dancing was so central that admission to events with balls could cost twice as much as those without.

The Popular Fandango Dance

In the 18th century, the fandango became so popular across all social classes that some foreign travelers considered it Portugal's national dance. Originally from Spanish theaters, it was danced by couples using castanets or finger snapping, often in taverns and even convents.

Common travel in mule-drawn calashes

Due to poor road conditions, the most common vehicles in Lisbon were two-mule calashes, while traveling by horse or mule was often necessary. A rental calash in the city cost 42 réis per day.

Travel by stubborn pack mules

Travelers frequently used pack mules to move between towns; because these animals were often stubborn and guided by muleteers who stopped often at taverns, passengers faced long delays and the risk of accidents.

Costs for lodging and meals in Lisbon

Travelers in Lisbon could stay in rented rooms where daily food, including lunch and dinner, cost 30 réis, while the room itself was charged separately, ranging from 10 to 40 réis. Simpler meals at food houses commonly cost 12 réis.

Storing and transporting water in Lisbon houses

In noble Lisbon households, water for daily consumption was stored in large glazed clay jars or barrels, and was frequently transported to the home on the heads of workers. One specific household paid an employee 2,400 réis monthly to provide this essential water.

Cod as a staple for the poor

Dried and salted cod, known as bacalhau, was a staple protein for ordinary people because it was affordable and easy to store.

Limpets as food for the needy

While fish was a primary food source, shellfish like limpets were often gathered from rocks by the needy as a cheap source of calories.

Bread prices and weights in the 1700s

When the price of wheat reached 40 réis per arrátel, the price of a loaf of bread was set at 10 réis. During times of scarcity, if the wheat price rose to 500 réis, the weight of the bread loaf was reduced to about 0.3 kg, known as pão de vintém.

Soldiers' wages and miserable conditions

Soldiers often lived on very little, sometimes receiving only food for their labor, and frequently had their wages delayed for months or even years. This resulted in soldiers often being seen wearing ragged and miserable shoes.