Historical Information - The Elusive Empress

My latest novel is based on the life of the enigmatic Empress Elisabeth who was known to her family as Sisi and was married to Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, who reigned from 1848-1916.

Franz Josef’s imperious mother, the Archduchess Sophia (once described as ‘the only man in the Hofburg’) made it quite clear that she didn’t think the young girl worthy of her son and ensured that Sisi had little control over the upbringing of all but her youngest child. Brought up as the daughter of a minor Bavarian Duke, Sisi hated the strict formality of the Viennese court and began to travel extensively to escape from it – much to her adoring husband’s chagrin. She also dieted to extremes (the original size ‘0’!), exercised in her own gym, and was one of the most accomplished horsewomen in Europe. In England, she hunted at Althorp (Earl Spencer’s estate and childhood home of Princess Diana).

Sisi was mercurial, wilful and difficult but she could also be caring and compassionate; visiting hospitals and helping to care for Austria’s war-wounded, while using her influence with the Emperor to secure much-needed reforms. She was also capable of stirring great passion in the hearts of some of Hungary’s greatest patriots including Count Julius Andrássy. Her influence undoubtedly acted as a major catalyst in the creation of the Austria-Hungary Dual Monarchy.

Yet her life was plagued by tragedy. Her son, Rudolf, died under tragic and suspicious circumstances in an apparent suicide pact with his mistress, Mary Vetsera, at the Emperor’s hunting lodge in Mayerling, Austria.

In my novel, her eldest sister, (known as Néné), her Hungarian reader, Ida Festetics and her favourite (and youngest) daughter, Valerie tell her story – the way they see it – as does Katharina Schratt, the actress who, with Sisi’s active encouragement, became her husband’s ‘special friend’ for many years.

Sisi was assassinated by 24 year old anarchist Luigi Lucheni on September 10th 1898, at the age of 60, while visiting Lake Geneva. He stabbed her with a file and, initially unaware of what had happened - owing to the severest of corsetry - she died shortly afterwards. Bizarrely, Lucheni was merely looking for someone famous to assassinate in order to highlight his cause – anyone in Sisi’s position would have done, so it was nothing personal!

Franz Josef was heartbroken and revered her memory until the day he died.