Meet the polygamists of the Bible
Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie was born on December 24, 1837, in Munich, Bavaria, into the Wittelsbach family, a prominent German royal dynasty. Pictured is the Herzog-Max-Palais where she was born.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, remains one of the most enigmatic and iconic figures in European history. Her life, marked by beauty, tragedy, and rebellion against royal constraints, captivated both her contemporaries and generations after. Despite her royal status, Sisi was deeply troubled by the pressures of court life, constantly seeking freedom and escape.
Click on to discover the true story of Sisi, exploring her struggles, triumphs, and the legacy she left behind.
She was affectionately called "Sisi" or "Sissi" by her family and close acquaintances, a name that has become iconic.
Sisi married Franz Joseph on April 24, 1854, at the age of 16, becoming the Empress of Austria. She was seen crying during the procession in Vienna, aware of the stifling imperial life awaiting her at the court.
Sisi grew up in a liberal household, enjoying outdoor activities like horse riding and hiking, which shaped her free-spirited personality.
Originally intended to marry her sister Helene (pictured), Emperor Franz Joseph fell in love with 15-year-old Sisi during a family visit to Bad Ischl in 1853. Elisabeth, however, felt little affection for the Emperor, describing him as conservative and humorless.
Life at the Hofburg Palace contrasted starkly with her upbringing. Overwhelmed by court etiquette and constant scrutiny, Sisi found herself at odds with her role as Empress.
Sisi was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time, admired for her slender figure and long, flowing chestnut hair.
Sisi's mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie (front row, seated, second from left), disapproved of her and openly undermined her authority, particularly as a mother, controlling the upbringing of Elisabeth’s children.
Her hair care took up to three hours daily, and she followed extreme diets and fitness regimens to maintain her figure. This portrait was supposedly one of Emperor Franz Joseph's favorite paintings of his wife.
Sisi's first child, Sophie, was born in 1855, followed by Gisela in 1856. In 1858, she gave birth to Crown Prince Rudolf, providing the empire with a long-awaited male heir. Later, in 1868, her youngest daughter, Marie Valerie, was born.
She was passionate about exercise, setting up private gyms in her residences and excelling in horseback riding, hiking, and fencing.
Sisi felt a profound connection to Hungary, even learning its language to immerse herself in its culture. She became a key advocate for the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, which granted Hungary greater autonomy.
Franz Joseph and Sisi were crowned King and Queen of Hungary in 1867, solidifying her bond with the Hungarian people.
In 1857, her first daughter, Sophie, died of illness during a family trip, deepening Sisi's struggles with depression. Sophie was two years old.
The Empress used her morning routine not only for grooming but also for studying languages. She was fluent in German, French, Hungarian, and English, and even pursued modern Greek with dedication.
Sisi wrote Heine-inspired poetry, calling herself Titania after Shakespeare's Fairy Queen. Her romantic poems, often secret diaries, reflected her travels, classical Greek and romantic themes, and sharp critiques of the Habsburg dynasty.
Whenever Elisabeth's weight approached 50 kilos (110 pounds), she embarked on "fasting cures," nearly eliminating food. Disgusted by meat, she consumed thin soups made from beef juice or subsisted on milk and eggs.
From her 30s onward, Sisi avoided public appearances and refused to be photographed or painted, fearing the effects of aging.
On her imperial steamer Miramar, the Empress explored the Mediterranean, favoring Cape Martin and Corfu. She also ventured to less traditional royal destinations like Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Egypt. Reflecting on her journeys, she remarked, "If I arrived at a place and knew that I could never leave it again, the whole stay would become hell despite being paradise."
The Mayerling incident refers to the tragic events surrounding the deaths of Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, and his 17-year-old mistress, Mary Vetsera.
On Saturday, September 10, 1898, Sisi and her lady-in-waiting, Countess Irma Sztáray, were walking to catch a steamship in Geneva when Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni approached and fatally stabbed her with a needle file. She had been the Empress of Austria for 44 years.
Sisi suffered from depression and an eating disorder, struggles compounded by the demands of her imperial duties and personal tragedies.
As Geneva mourned, Sisi's body was placed in a triple coffin, with glass panels for viewing. Her funeral train journeyed to Vienna, where the coffin was marked "Empress of Austria" before adding "Queen of Hungary." On September 17, a grand procession led her to the Imperial Crypt.
In 1898, despite warnings of assassination attempts, the 60-year-old Empress traveled incognito to Geneva, but her identity was revealed when someone at the Hôtel Beau-Rivage disclosed her presence. This was the last photograph taken of Sisi in Switzerland, a week before her death.
On January 30, 1889, their bodies were found in an imperial hunting lodge near Vienna, with evidence suggesting a murder-suicide. Rudolf, aged 30, was married to Princess Stéphanie of Belgium.
Statues, exhibits, and memorials across Vienna honor Sisi, celebrating her as one of Austria's most enduring figures.
Her legacy lives on in both cultural and historical memory, with her life seen as both glamorous and tragic. Sisi famously declared, "I want always to be on the move," capturing her restless spirit and aversion to confinement.
Sources: (History Extra) (Tatler) (Britannica)
See also: Last words of royals throughout history
Sisi's life has inspired numerous films, plays, books, and TV series, including the Netflix miniseries 'The Empress,' starring Turkish-German actress Devrim Lingnau (pictured).
After Rudolf's death, Sisi wore only black for the rest of her life, withdrawing further from public and court life.
Lucheni initially intended to kill the Duke of Orléans, but after learning he had left Geneva, he targeted the Empress upon discovering that she was there in a newspaper. He was later tried as a common murderer, declared sane, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Denied the chance for a political statement, he attempted suicide in 1900 and ultimately hanged himself in 1910.
The real story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Discover the captivating story of the royal beauty
LIFESTYLE History
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, remains one of the most enigmatic and iconic figures in European history. Her life, marked by beauty, tragedy, and rebellion against royal constraints, captivated both her contemporaries and generations after. Despite her royal status, Sisi was deeply troubled by the pressures of court life, constantly seeking freedom and escape.
Click on to discover the true story of Sisi, exploring her struggles, triumphs, and the legacy she left behind.