![]() When Sisi entered the strict regimens of the Habsburg court in the Imperial Palace in Vienna, she was highly unprepared for its rigid protocols. Hamann was an important Austrian-German writer and historian and in this 1986 biography exposed-for the first time-the empress as a very strong and independent character, rather than simply a beautiful and graceful one. Most important, she was not superficial in her thinking and wasted little time on appearances, trying instead to fathom the ‘truth of things,’” Brigitte Hamann writes in her book, The Reluctant Empress, A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. “By nature, Elisabeth was warm-hearted and fair-minded. Her intuitive and natural approach to life was strikingly different to her royal circumstances, where a distinct aristocratic pride and respect for formalities were prioritized, and truth and authenticity ranked low. A child of nature, she grew up hiking and riding horses with her seven siblings-and, from a young age, was encouraged to freely roam the lands. Imperial Apartments at the Sisi Museum Viennaįor a Duchess, Elisabeth enjoyed a rather idyllic and informal upbringing in the Bavarian countryside. Kind, passionate, and youthful, she struggled with the staid traditions of the royal court and fiercely fought to live life her way. Nearly 125 years after her untimely death, Sisi remains a fascinating and beloved icon in Austria. The Sissi trilogy from the 1950s is mainly regarded as a romanticized version of Sisi and her life, whereas the recent productions offer a more realistic and honest portrayal of this multifaceted royal and her years on the Viennese court. It had been nearly 70 years since anyone attempted to retell Sisi’s story on screen. Earlier this year, Corsage won the Best Performance award at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard category. In September, the historical drama Corsage was selected to represent Austria in the Best International Feature Category at next year’s Academy Awards. This latest interpretation of Sisi and her fascinating life as Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire began streaming worldwide at the end of September. The 15-year-old Elisabeth, or Sisi as she was fondly called, is refusing to join her mother for an official royal visit and secretly escaping her childhood home on her favorite horse into the nearby lands. The movies starred actress Romy Schneider.“Sisi, where are you!” the Duchess Ludovika of Bavaria shouts at her daughter in the first scene of the new series The Empress. She has since become something of an historical icon and highly romantic figure, through a series of movies called Sisi in the 1950s. Empress Elisabeth was assassinated by an Italian anarchist in 1898, while on a visit to Geneva. Her only son, Rudolf, committed suicide in 1889, after killing his young mistress Marie Vetsera. She was often away and lived long periods of time abroad, notably in Hungary and at her villa in Corfu. She disliked the strict etiquette of the court. She had four children: Sophie (1855-1857), Gisele (1856-1932), Rudolf (1858-1889) and Valerie (1868-1924).įranz Joseph and Elisabeth became King and Queen of Hungary in 1867, when the two countries joined together and created the Austro-Hungarian Empire.Įlisabeth suffered from lung disease and melancholia. ![]() Her health suffered under the stress of the court life. ![]() The birth of her son Rudolf improved her standing at court. Early in the marriage, her mother-in-law, Princess Sophie, took over the care of Elisabeth's daughters. She disliked the much more formal life she had to live at court. Elisabeth had an informal upbringing, before marrying Franz Joseph. Empress Elisabeth has become something of an historical icon and highly romantic figureĮlisabeth and Franz Joseph were married in great pomp in Vienna on April 24, 1854.
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