Elisabeth Of Austria: Her Sibling Story

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was the third child of ten children born to Princess Maria Ludovika and Duke Maximilian in Bavaria. She had several brothers and sisters, including Ludwig Wilhelm, Helene (Néné), Carl Theodor (Gackel), Marie, Mathilde (Spatz), Sophie, and Max Emanuel (Mapperl).

Elisabeth's parents and their marriage

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was born on 24 December 1837 in Munich, Bavaria. She was the fourth child of ten children born to Duke Maximilian in Bavaria (1808–1888) and Princess Maria Ludovika (1808–1892).

Duke Maximilian, known as "Schürzenjäger", was a bit eccentric and decidedly more progressive in his ideals than his fellow European aristocrats. He was financially independent and led an eccentric lifestyle, travelling the Bavarian countryside to escape his duties. He also had several illegitimate children. Princess Ludovika, on the other hand, was a daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria and was overshadowed by her sisters. She was described as living a "countrified" life, far removed from the great courts of Europe.

Elisabeth's parents' marriage was not a love match and was overshadowed by their diametrically opposed outlooks on life. Despite this, the family lived quietly in Duke Max's palace in Munich and at their summer residence at Possenhofen on Lake Starnberg. Thanks to her father's liberal attitudes, Elisabeth enjoyed an unconventional and carefree upbringing that was unusual for someone of her elevated social rank. She spent much of her time riding in the Bavarian countryside, rather than in formal lessons.

Elisabeth's childhood was much less structured than many of her royal and aristocratic counterparts. She was particularly close to her older sister, Helene, and her younger brother, Carl Theodor. She also had a special relationship with her younger sister, Marie Sophie Amalie, who was the last Queen of the Two Sicilies.

In 1853, Elisabeth, her mother, and her older sister Helene travelled to the resort of Bad Ischl, Upper Austria, where she met her future husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I, who was her first cousin. Franz Joseph fell in love with Elisabeth and insisted that he would marry her and no one else. They were married on 24 April 1854.

Elisabeth's older brother Ludwig Wilhelm

Ludwig Wilhelm Herzog in Bayern, born on 21 June 1831, was the older brother of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. He was the first child of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. Ludwig Wilhelm was often called Louis.

Ludwig Wilhelm pursued a career in the Royal Bavarian Army, becoming a major in the 1st Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers "Emperor Nicholas of Russia" and rising to the rank of General of the Cavalry by 1859. He renounced his rights as the firstborn when he entered into a morganatic marriage with the actress Henriette Mendel, who was created Baroness von Wallersee. Their daughter, Marie Louise Mendel, later went down in history as Marie Louise von Larisch-Wallersee. She was involved in the Mayerling Incident, which Empress Elisabeth never fully recovered from.

Ludwig Wilhelm married a second time to ballet prima donna Antonie Barth in 1892. The duke was forty years older than his bride, and she was not accepted into the duke's family as graciously as his first wife. She was created Baroness von Bartolf. In 1906, the duke declared his intention to marry Fraulein Tordek, a prima donna of the Munich royal opera house. However, she left him in 1907 after years of physical and emotional abuse. They divorced in July 1913 after Frau Bartolf gave birth to a daughter, Hélène, who the duke claimed was not his child.

In November 1920, Ludwig Wilhelm died of a cardiac arrest-induced stroke and is buried in Munich's Ostfriedhof.

Elisabeth's older sister Helene

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was born into the Ducal royal branch of the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. She was the fourth child of ten children, born to Princess Maria Ludovika and Duke Maximilian in Bavaria.

Elisabeth had a close relationship with her older sister, Helene, who was three and a half years her senior. Known affectionately as Néné by her family, Helene was born in 1834 and was the daughter of Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria, and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria. She was a member of the Bavarian royal family via her mother and enjoyed the same carefree upbringing as Sisi and their siblings on the beautiful shores of Lake Starnberg. She received a classical education that included literature, history, music, and the arts. She was known for her strong religious devotion but was often described as difficult and did not possess the same level of beauty as her sisters.

In 1853, Helene travelled to Bad Ischl with her mother and sister, with the expectation of an engagement between Helene and Emperor Franz Joseph. Their mothers, who were sisters, had orchestrated the visit, as Helene, known for her obedience and piety, seemed a perfect match. However, when Franz Joseph met the 15-year-old Sisi, he fell in love with her and chose her as his wife, instead of Helene. This created tension within the family and a complicated relationship between the sisters.

Helene withdrew from society and spent time in Potsdam with her aunt, Queen Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia. Her parents were concerned that she would join a convent, so they arranged for her to meet the wealthy Maximilian Anton, Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis, a member of one of the wealthiest noble families in Europe. With a little encouragement from Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph, who likely felt they owed Helene some happiness, the King of Bavaria was persuaded to approve the match.

Helene and Maximilian were married in 1858 at Possenhofen Castle. They had four children and their descendants still live in Schloss Thurn und Taxis in Regensburg. The marriage was probably happy, in contrast to the marriages of her younger sisters, but it was sadly short-lived. Maximilian died at the age of 35 from kidney disease, leaving Helene widowed far too soon. She then assumed the role of regent for her young son, Maximilian Maria, who inherited the title of Prince of Thurn and Taxis. She displayed remarkable resilience and skill in managing the family's vast estates and affairs, guiding the lineage through a period of uncertainty.

Helene died at the age of 56 in 1890 from an abdominal illness, specifically stomach cancer. She was buried in the St. Emmeram's Abbey, the family crypt of the Thurn und Taxis family.

Elisabeth's younger brother Carl Theodor

Elisabeth, also known as Sisi, had a special relationship with her younger brother Carl Theodor, who was known as Gackel. Carl was born in 1839 and died in 1909. He became a well-known ophthalmologist and founded the private eye clinic Herzog Carl Theodor in Munich, where he performed around 5,000 cataract operations.

Elisabeth's younger sister Sophie

Elisabeth's younger sister, Sophie, lived a tragic life. She was born in 1847 and died at the age of 50 in 1897. She had several suitors, including Duke Philip of Württemberg, Prince Louis of Portugal, and Ludwig Viktor of Austria, who was homosexual. Her cousin and childhood friend, Ludwig II, was also considered a candidate, but he broke off the engagement. Sophie married Ferdinand von Alençon, grandson of the last French king. The couple lived in exile in England, where Sophie was uncomfortable. She gave birth to a son, and the family soon moved to France. Sophie began to suffer from depression and was admitted to a mental hospital, which she left cured seven months later. She died in a fire in Paris.

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