empress elisabeth of austria and franz joseph

A life with strict duties and ceremonies at the court lay in front of her. The honeymoon at Laxenburg Palace turned into a disaster the young emperor spent his days at his desk while his wife cried her heart out in the park.

Yet, it is still difficult for historians to determine Sisi's true personality behind all the hype.įrom the very first day, the young and spirited empress felt caged by the rigid rituals of the Viennese court. Even 125 years after her death, the empress outshines all. Of all the Habsburgs, Austria's longest-reigning dynasty, no one has retained as much fame as Elisabeth of Austria. Eight months later, the wedding took place in Vienna. Two days after their first meeting, Franz Joseph asked Elisabeth to marry him. The event in Bad Ischl was one such moment. The 15-year-old Elisabeth, or 'Sisi,' kept her mother and sister company on the journey, and as fate would have it, the emperor fell in love with her at first sight.Įvery now and then, a single fateful moment in history turned beggars into kings, outlaws into heroes and … a girl from a small Bavarian town into a legendary empress. Franz Joseph greeted her, but his gaze wandered to the young, lively girl next to her. She was a serious 17-year-old who appeared austere and ascetic in her dark clothing. In Bad Ischl, a lovely town in Austria's Salzburg Lake District, Helene was to be presented to His Majesty Franz Joseph, ruler of the Habsburg Empire. Now they had to appear before the emperor in black for their meeting on that fateful August 16, 1853. Duchess Ludovika of Bavaria and her daughters Helene and Elisabeth were in mourning because of a recently deceased aunt. Whatever the case, the suitcases containing their colourful summer wardrobe could not be found. What exactly happened to the ladies' luggage that day will forever remain a mystery. The Vignette – Austria’s Motorway Toll Sticker.

Empress elisabeth of austria and franz joseph