Biography of Elisabeth of Bavaria

History and tragedy of Princess Sissi

24 December 1837
10 September 1898
Due to the success of the films of the fifties of the twentieth century dedicated to her, became famous by the name of Princess Sissi (and the face of Romy Schneider), but history remembers as Elisabeth of Bavaria. Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie of Wittelsbach was born in Munich on 24 December 1837, the fourth of ten children, from ludovika of Bavaria and Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, both belonging to the Wittelsbach family. In spite of an absent father (with numerous illegitimate children and many lovers), Elizabeth spends a serene childhood, between the family Palace of Monaco and the summer residence of Possenhofen. At fourteen he falls in love with a Squire of his father, Richard, who however is moved away from the Palace because of his ancestry don't like. He dies shortly after: an event that deeply upset Elizabeth. In the summer of 1853, the girl gives her consent to the marriage with Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria: the couple begins to appear in public, as they begin negotiations to obtain the Papal dispensation, which is essential since the two are first cousins.
Elizabeth was educated and trained: Learn French and Italian, and the most important notions about the history of Austria. The marriage contract was signed in March of 1854, with a dowry set at 50,000 guilders paid by the bride's father and 100,000 guilders paid by the emperor. In April the future Empress is warmly welcomed in Vienna, where, in the augustinerkirche, we celebrate the magnificent wedding. The early years in challenging Court proved, however, accomplices strict ceremonials which Elisabeth of Bavaria is subjected: the girl, also because of remoteness from her affections, falls ill, falling continuously in anxiety. His relationship with the Archduchess Sophie, mother of the emperor which was responsible for turning this into a worthy Empress, soon deteriorates, partly because of the sacrifices and rigour that she claims. Criticized in court because of modest education, the Empress is still pregnant and gives birth to her first daughter in March of 1855: birth of Sofia, named in honor of the grandmother.
The following year, Elizabeth gave birth to Gisella. Between 1856 and 1857 Elizabeth and her husband travel to Italy: ella, as well, has no way of noticing how the Empire is not well accepted by all Nations, and militaristic regime implemented by Austria meant that the Italians have to hate the Habsburgs. The same climate of hostility he found in Hungary, where the little Sofia fell ill and died on 19 may 1857. Elisabeth of Bavaria, not yet twenty, remains upset by the incident, and once back in Austria rejects any public appearance. Then Grandma Education entrusts Gisella Sofia, considering themselves guilty of the death of the other daughter. The following year becomes mom of Rodolfo, the Crown Prince of the Empire, after a complicated delivery that leaves trail on his health for many months. After receiving the visit of sister Marie Sophie, wife of the future Francis II of the two Sicilies, his condition seem however to improve. After the defeat suffered by the Austrian army at the battle of Magenta, Francis Joseph leaves Vienna and moves to Italy to lead the army in first person: Elizabeth falls into a State of tremendous despair because of the remoteness, asks to join him but did not get permission.
Social commitments, deserting reacts by going on horseback and undergoing a drastic diet, arousing the disapproval of the whole Court. It gets worse after the battle of Solferino, where the Austrians make up another loss: the people calling for the abdication of Emperor Franz Joseph, while Elizabeth organizes in Laxenburg Castle a military hospital. The political crisis is accompanied by a personal crisis: the relationship between the Empress and her husband get harder because of disputes with the mother-in-law Sofia and to the spread of news about the infidelity of Franz Joseph. Elizabeth, recalling the pains suffered by the mother because of the absence of her husband, afraid to do the same end: not to mention that her husband is the only bond with a court that hates and detests. Her reaction is an insult to label: in fact, organizes dances that invite the offspring of high society of Vienna without their parents (behavior totally contrary to the custom of the time). In July 1860 Elizabeth takes his daughter Gisela with him and, after leaving the Court of Vienna, travels to Possenhofen. Back to court a month later, on the occasion of the birthday of her husband, to avoid a scandal.
His poor health back to cause her trouble in October when the diets and the nervous crises the cause a meltdown. To get away from the Court and try to heal, the Empress, then 22 years old, moved in Portuguese Madeira. In 1868 Elizabeth gives birth to Marie Valerie, her youngest daughter, in Budapest: a tribute to its most beloved subjects, the Hungarians. Elizabeth takes care of the education of the newcomer in the first person, unlike what happened with the first three children. In the 1970s and 1980s, Empress he devoted himself entirely to herself, ignoring Court commitments and passing the time to heal, to preserve her physical appearance and beauty: only for dress, takes three hours every day (since clothes are sewn on) while washing hair requires a full day.
In 1889 Rudolf's suicide uccisosi together with his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera, Port Elizabeth in another crisis: she continues to travel throughout Europe, but always in mourning and constantly the victim of nervous breakdowns. Elisabeth of Bavaria died on 10 September 1898: as he is about to embark, in Geneva, to the hamlet of Territer, Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni-Montreux-the chest stabs with a direct hit, after hiding the file in a bouquet. While the criminal is blocked by four passers-by after trying to escape, the Empress collapses to the ground after the shot; then, not feeling any pain and resumed walking toward the boat. Once onboard, pales and faints into the arms of the Countess Stàray: reported in hotel, dies without regaining consciousness. La lima has pierced the left ventricle, and the cause of death was internal bleeding. The corpse of the Empress was buried in the Imperial crypt in Vienna: at his side there are still today the graves of her husband and son.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.