1. Bathroom Quirks at Versailles Palace
At the grandiose Palace of Versailles in Paris, one would expect opulence and luxury. However, there was a conspicuous absence: bathrooms. During the Middle Ages, personal hygiene was far from our modern standards. Toothbrushes, perfumes, deodorants, and even toilet paper were nonexistent. Instead, human waste found its way out of palace windows. Surprisingly, the magnificent gardens surrounding Versailles also served as impromptu restrooms during large gatherings.
2. The Art of Odor Management
In period films, we witness people of that era using fans—not for cooling the room, but to disperse the pungent odor emanating from beneath their voluminous skirts. Only the elite had servants dedicated to fanning them. These fans served a dual purpose: reducing both body and breath odor while also shooing away insects.
3. June Weddings and the Birth of Bridal Bouquets
Why did most medieval marriages occur in June? It wasn’t just about the pleasant weather. The first bath of the year typically took place in May, making June a time when body odor was still tolerable. However, if the scent became noticeable during the wedding, resourceful brides carried bouquets of flowers to mask it. Thus, the tradition of bridal bouquets was born.
4. Bathing: A Rare Luxury
Due to the cold climate and limited water supply (central heating systems were nonexistent), regular bathing was a rarity. Families shared a large tub of hot water for bathing. The head of the household enjoyed the privilege of the first clean bath, followed by other family members in order of age. Unfortunately, by the time it was the children’s turn, the water was often so murky that it could pose health risks.
5. Open Ceilings and Unusual Houseguests
House ceilings were remarkably open, with wooden beams supporting the roof. These beams inadvertently became cozy spots for living creatures—dogs, cats, rats, and cockroaches—helping keep the house warm. When rain fell, water dripping through the gaps forced these animals to leap to the ground. Meanwhile, those with means dined on tin plates.
6. Dubious Hygiene Standards
Hygiene practices were abysmal. Tomatoes, considered acidic and therefore poisonous, were avoided. On holidays, palace kitchens prepared feasts for up to 1500 people without adhering to basic hygiene standards.
7. Unconventional Burial Practices
In England, limited burial space led to creative solutions. After a certain period, used coffins were reopened, bones removed, and the grave reused for another body. Initially, scratches inside coffin lids indicated that some buried individuals were actually alive. To prevent premature burial, ribbons were tied to the wrists of the deceased, passing through holes in the coffin and hanging outside with a bell. If the person woke up, the bell would ring, alerting the outside world.
9. Colonial Background
The first British officer killed in World War One was an Englishman, born in India, serving in a Scottish regiment, and commanding Senegalese troops in Togoland. This remarkable blend of colonial backgrounds highlights the global interconnectedness during that tumultuous period 10. Fashion Trends and Questionable Choices
People eagerly followed fashion trends, even if they raised eyebrows (pun intended). Take women, for instance—they plucked not only their eyebrows but also their eyelashes and hairlines in pursuit of a round, smooth face.
Men were no less fashion-forward. They flaunted the latest styles, and the length of their shoes became a status symbol. Some shoes grew so long that they needed reinforcement with materials like whalebone.
11. Rat Torture: A Gruesome Punishment
Suspected criminals faced unimaginable torture methods during the Middle Ages. Among the worst was rat torture: a torturer placed a rat in a half-cage on the victim’s abdomen and heated the cage from above.
The desperate rat clawed its way through the victim’s stomach, causing excruciating pain. Justice, it seems, had a dark side.
12. Elephant Executions: Justice Underfoot
In South and Southeast Asia, especially India, justice was sometimes delivered by elephants. Crimes as varied as tax evasion could lead to death by crushing under the massive animals.
Imagine the weight of justice—literally—bearing down on the accused.
13. The Black Death: A Grim Reaper Unleashed
The Black Death, a bubonic plague pandemic, swept across Europe in the 14th century. It claimed an estimated 30 to 60 percent of lives.
Lack of modern medicine exacerbated the suffering, affecting both the innocent and the guilty. Death knew no discrimination.
14. Monastic Margins: From Devotion to Doodles
Amid the solemnity of monastic life, medieval monks left moments of levity. As they painstakingly copied texts by hand, they filled manuscript margins with bizarre notes, whimsical drawings, and even raunchy sketches.
These glimpses into their human side reveal that even the most devoted scribes had a mischievous streak.
15. Fashion Crimes and Punishments
Fashion crimes were no laughing matter. While we might scoff at questionable outfits today, medieval society took them seriously.
But it wasn’t just fashion that faced scrutiny. Even animals like pigs and roosters could be put on trial and executed. Yet, the harshest fate awaited humans accused of wrongdoing. As Shakespeare’s Hamlet wisely remarked to Horatio, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” 🌟
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Sources:
1. https://www.medievalists.net/2023/11/people-middle-ages-baths
2. (Book) "Clean: A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity" by Virginia Smith
3. (Book) "The Age of Comfort" by Joan DeJean
4. (Book) "The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England" by Ian Mortimer
5. https://historyinsights.com/creation-of-safety-coffins
6. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Safety_coffin
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