Leslie Massey
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi or Sissi, was a fascinating figure in European history. She was known for her beauty, elegance, and tragic life story, which included a tumultuous marriage, mental health struggles, and an untimely death. Sisi was born into Bavarian royalty in 1837 and became Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary at the young age of 16 when she married Emperor Franz Joseph I. She found the formalities and rigid etiquette of court life suffocating and often escaped by travelling extensively, even visiting countries that were uncommon destinations for European royals at the time. Sisi's life and legacy continue to captivate people even over a century after her tragic assassination in 1898.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie |
| Born | 24 December 1837 |
| Died | 10 September 1898 |
| Tenure | 44 years |
| Title | Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary |
| Known As | Sisi, Sissi, Sissy, Lisi, Liesl, Erzsi |
| Parent(s) | Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria |
| Spouse | Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria |
| Children | 3 daughters and 1 son |
| Cause of Death | Assassination |
| Known For | Beauty, elegance, intelligence, eccentricity, progressive and democratic ideals, pacifism, love for the sea, interest in history, philosophy, literature, gymnastics, riding, and smoking |
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What You'll Learn
Empress Elisabeth's tragic life and death
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi or Sissi, led a tragic life marked by mental health struggles, loss, and an unhappy marriage. Her life ended in an equally tragic assassination in 1898.
Elisabeth was born on December 24, 1837, in Munich, Bavaria, into the royal Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. She enjoyed an informal and unstructured upbringing, exploring the countryside and pursuing creative interests. In 1853, at just 15 or 16 years old, she met her future husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, and they married the following year. This marriage thrust her into the formal and rigid Habsburg court life, which she found suffocating and unpleasant. She struggled with the duties and etiquette of court life and often clashed with her domineering mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie.
Elisabeth suffered from mental health issues, which included nervous collapses and talk of suicide. She found solace in her travels, frequently visiting Hungary, Greece, England, Ireland, Switzerland, and other destinations. She was a free spirit who loved the sea and sailing, and she even had an anchor tattooed on her shoulder. Elisabeth was also a smoker, a defiant act at the time, and she took up riding and gymnastics, which made her the subject of gossip.
The death of her only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, and his mistress Mary Vetsera, in a murder-suicide in 1889, devastated Elisabeth. She never fully recovered from this loss and withdrew from court duties, travelling extensively without her family. She had a palace built on the Greek island of Corfu, but even this did not provide the peace she sought. Elisabeth became obsessed with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty, resorting to restrictive diets and tight-laced corsets.
In 1898, while travelling in Geneva, Switzerland, Elisabeth was fatally stabbed in the heart by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni. Her tragic life and unusual death continue to captivate people even over a century later, with her story being immortalized in films, literature, and museums.
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Her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi or Sissi, was married to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. They wedded on 24 April 1854 when she was just 16 years old. The marriage lasted 44 years, making it the longest of any Austrian empress.
Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I were related; they were first cousins. They first met in August 1853 in Bad Ischl, a town in Austria's Salzburg Lake District. The meeting was orchestrated by Franz Joseph I's domineering mother, Archduchess Sophie, who was also Elisabeth's maternal aunt. Sophie had arranged for her son to meet Duchess Helene, the eldest daughter of her sister, Princess Ludovika. However, Franz Joseph I was instantly drawn to the lively Elisabeth, who was just 15 years old at the time.
The marriage thrust Elisabeth into the formal Habsburg court life, which she found suffocating and for which she was unprepared. She often clashed with her mother-in-law, who took over the rearing of Elisabeth's daughters, one of whom, Sophie, died in infancy. The birth of a son, Crown Prince Rudolf, improved Elisabeth's standing at court, but her health suffered under the strain.
Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I had four children: three daughters and one son. Their son, Crown Prince Rudolf, was the longed-for heir to the throne, but he committed suicide with his lover Mary Vetsera in 1889. This tragedy greatly affected Elisabeth, who withdrew from court duties and travelled widely without her family. She had a deep love for the sea and was regarded as the finest horsewoman in the world.
Elisabeth's marriage did nothing to alleviate her unhappiness. In the minutes following her nuptials, she was seen sobbing as she passed through processions of excited Austrians. She took up activities such as smoking, riding, and gymnastics during her marriage, which caused her to become the subject of gossip.
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Her interest in Hungary and its monarchy
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi or Sissi, was born into the Ducal royal branch of the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach and enjoyed an informal upbringing. At the age of 16, she married her first cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, which brought her into the much more formal Habsburg court life. She found this new environment suffocating and was often at odds with her domineering mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie.
Elisabeth's interest in Hungary and its monarchy stemmed from her desire to escape the rigid etiquette and formality of the Viennese court. She often visited Hungary, finding solace in its more relaxed environment. She developed a deep kinship with the country and its people, and they, in turn, admired her. She spent a lot of time at Gödöllő, north of Budapest, and her enthusiasm for Hungary was so great that it affronted German sentiment within Austria.
Elisabeth played an important role in the establishment of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867, also known as the Compromise or the Austro-Hungarian Ausgleich. She was crowned Queen of Hungary on 8 June 1867, three years after becoming Empress of Austria through her marriage. Her support for the Hungarian monarchy was so significant that, after her assassination in 1898, the Hungarians were outraged that her coffin only bore the inscription "Elisabeth, Empress of Austria", and the words "and Queen of Hungary" were hastily added.
Elisabeth's affinity for Hungary extended beyond politics, as she also embraced Hungarian culture and language. She studied Hungarian and even learned to speak it fluently, in addition to her knowledge of English, French, and modern Greek. Her love for Hungary was so strong that she continued to visit and find comfort there even after facing criticism from German Austrians. She found Hungary to be a place of refuge during extreme bouts of sadness and grief, especially after the death of her only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, in a murder-suicide in 1889.
The impact of Elisabeth's interest in Hungary can still be seen today, as several sites in the country are named after her. These include two districts in Budapest, Erzsébetváros and Pesterzsébet, and various residences she frequented, such as the Royal Palace of Gödöllő.
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Her beauty and elegance
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was renowned for her beauty and elegance, which captivated the public and earned her a lasting reputation as an icon of immortal beauty. She was considered the most beautiful princess in Europe and her good looks and elegant features were often credited with retaining public interest in the Austrian court.
Sisi's beauty and elegance were so memorable that in 1955, the Hollywood star Romy Schneider was chosen to play the empress in the beloved German film "Sissi", which centred around the royal's radiant good looks. The film brought her story to international audiences and revived interest in her life, even 125 years after her death.
Sisi was known for her obsession with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty. She developed a restrictive diet and wore extremely tight-laced corsets to keep her waist looking very small. She also refused to have any portraits or photographs taken of herself after the age of 30 and later in life, no one but her chambermaids saw her face, which she always kept hidden behind a veil, fan, or umbrella. The last photograph of her was taken when she was 30, and the last painting when she was 40.
Sisi's beauty and elegance extended beyond her physical appearance. She was regarded as the finest horsewoman in the world and had a deep love for the sea, often sailing through storms. She even had an anchor tattooed on her shoulder when she was 51 years old, demonstrating her rebellious and adventurous spirit.
Sisi's elegance and grace were also reflected in her choice of wardrobe. She and her family spent their summer months at Possenhofen Castle, and she often returned to her beloved Munich, where she had a special fondness for Bavarian beer. She secretly visited the newly built Hofbräuhaus in 1897, stating, "I will never leave Munich without stopping here."
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Her love of travel and the sea
Empress Elisabeth of Austria was an intensive traveller. She detested the Habsburgs in Vienna and tried to avoid it, instead wandering restlessly from spa town to spa town, never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. She sought to avoid all public attention and crowds of people, mostly travelling incognito under pseudonyms like "Countess of Hohenembs". She also refused to meet European monarchs when she did not feel like it.
Elisabeth's favourite places included Cape Martin on the French Riviera, Sanremo on the Ligurian Riviera, Lake Geneva in Switzerland, Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, and Corfu. She also visited countries not usually visited by European royals at the time, including Morocco, Algeria, Malta, Turkey, and Egypt. She commented on her travels: "If I arrived at a place and knew that I could never leave it again, the whole stay would become hell despite being paradise".
Elisabeth had a deep love for the sea. She sailed through the worst storms and even had an anchor tattooed on her shoulder while in Greece. She was also regarded as the finest horsewoman in the world. She was obsessively concerned with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty, developing a restrictive diet and wearing extremely tight-laced corsets to keep her waist looking very small.
Elisabeth's death in 1898 was as unusual as her life. While travelling in Geneva, she was stabbed in the heart by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni. She collapsed on board the ship she was about to sail across Lake Geneva on, with only a single drop of blood staining her black dress.
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Frequently asked questions
Empress Elisabeth of Austria was often referred to as "Sisi" or "Sissi", a nickname she had since childhood.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria was known for her beauty, elegance, and progressive beliefs. She was also known for her love of travel and her deep interest in Hungary, which helped bring about the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria was born on December 24, 1837, in Munich, Germany.
Empress Elisabeth married Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, her first cousin, on April 24, 1854, when she was just 16 years old.
Empress Elisabeth's life was marked by tragedy, including the death of her infant daughter and the suicide of her son, Crown Prince Rudolf, in 1889. She suffered from mental illness and found court life restrictive. Her life ended in tragedy when she was assassinated in 1898 by an Italian anarchist in Geneva, Switzerland.
