Charles II, Duke of Orléans

Charles II of Orléans was the third son of Francis I and Claude of France. In the autumn of 1545, Charles was on his way to Boulogne, which was under siege. On 6 September, he came across a cluster of houses that had been emptied and sealed off "from the plague", probably a form of influenza.

Essential tool pouches on belts

Peasant men wore belts with pouches to carry essential tools, such as sharpening stones or sewing implements.

Keeping garments clean while working

When performing dirty work, peasant women tucked their long cotes into the waistbands of their aprons to keep the hems clean.

Popular Morisque dance at court

At the ducal court, the Morisque was a popular dance performed by costumed men and women, especially during the carnival season. In 1521, Duke Antoine granted thirty francs to performers to help pay for their elaborate dance costumes.

Lute player's house and title

The lute was a successful and frequently used instrument at the ducal court, and in 1523, the ducal lute player Loys Ogier was granted the official title of master lute player. That same year, the prince gifted him fifty francs to help him purchase a house.

Daily travel distance for pack animals

In level country, merchant trains using pack animals could cover fifteen to twenty-five miles per day.

Public access to royal postal horses

By the early sixteenth century, King Francis I allowed the public to travel by the royal postal service, which used horses at a gallop between relay stations, though this service was very expensive.

Cooking over an open fire

Families cooked pottage or porridge all day in iron or brass kettles over a central fire on a stone hearth. To keep the smoke from filling the room, some homes used a conical hood or funnel to vent the fire toward the roof.

Home lighting and water collection

Common dwellings featured floors of beaten earth covered with straw, and interiors were lighted by doors or small, unglazed windows. Water was a heavy burden to collect, with women often carrying it in jugs from distant sources for household use.

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.

Daily Bread, Porridge, and Soup

Ordinary Lorrainers typically ate one to two pounds of bread daily, often supplementing it with soup, porridge made from grain cooked in lard, and cheese. Vegetables like legumes were dietary staples, while meat was primarily consumed as boiled soup meat.

Payment for heraldic work in 1519

In 1519, Nicolas Graxien was paid 22 francs for crafting nine heraldic shields for the duchess's apartments and providing the necessary colors.

Cost of a stained-glass window in 1516

In 1516, a stained-glass window featuring the coat of arms of Renée of Bourbon was commissioned from the glazier Nicolas Graxien for a payment of 2 francs.

Common jobs in rural Lorraine

Most people in the Duchy of Lorraine were peasants who worked in agriculture, mainly focusing on cereal crops like grains. Additional industries like glass manufacturing, salt mining, and paper production were also important rural occupations.

Female roles at the Nancy Mint

At the Nancy Mint, female workers known as tailleresses were specifically employed to trim excess metal from coin blanks to ensure they reached the correct weight. This task was frequently performed by the wives or daughters of the male minters.

Letters carried by travelers and merchants

Ordinary people often relied on traveling merchants, pilgrims, or occasional passersby to carry their letters, as formal postal services were largely restricted to royal or elite use. Urgent messages could require a dedicated rider, but even these could take weeks to deliver depending on luck, weather, and road conditions.

Reliance on oral communication and messengers

Because most people could not read or write, they relied on face-to-face communication or messengers who memorized oral messages. Written letters were rare, expensive, and often read aloud by a third party even to those who could read.