Elisabeth of Bavaria facts for kids
Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria (born December 24, 1837 – died September 10, 1898) was an important royal figure. She became the wife of Franz Joseph I of Austria, who was the Emperor of Austria.
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Early Life and Family
Elisabeth was born in Munich, which is in Bavaria. She was part of a royal family called the Wittelsbachs. She was the fourth of ten children born to Prince Maximilian of Bavaria and Princess Ludovika. Everyone knew her by her nickname, "Sissi."
Sissi grew up at Possenhofen Castle with her many brothers and sisters. Her childhood was quite relaxed compared to the strict royal life she would later experience.
A Royal Proposal
In August 1853, when Sissi was 15, she traveled to Bad Ischl with her mother and older sister, Helene. They were there to celebrate Emperor Franz Joseph's 23rd birthday. The plan was for Franz Joseph to announce his engagement to Helene.
However, something unexpected happened. Franz Joseph was very impressed by the young and beautiful Elisabeth. Instead of proposing to Helene, he asked Elisabeth to marry him!
Marriage to the Emperor
Elisabeth and Franz Joseph were married in a very grand ceremony in Vienna on April 24, 1854. It was a huge event with lots of celebration.
Sissi found it hard to adjust to her new life. She had grown up in a relaxed home, but court life was very formal and strict. She really disliked all the rules and traditions.
Life at Court and Children
Early in her marriage, Elisabeth's mother-in-law, Princess Sophie, took charge of raising Elisabeth's first daughters. This was common in royal families but made Elisabeth sad. Sadly, one of her daughters passed away when she was very young.
When her son Rudolf was born, Elisabeth's position at court became stronger. She had four children in total:
- Sophie (1855-1857)
- Gisele (1856-1932)
- Rudolf (1858-1889)
- Valerie (1868-1924)
The stress of court life often affected Elisabeth's health.
Queen of Hungary
In 1867, Franz Joseph and Elisabeth became the King and Queen of Hungary. This happened when Austria and Hungary joined together to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was a very important moment in history.
Elisabeth often felt unwell and suffered from sadness. She continued to dislike the strict rules of the court. Because of this, she spent a lot of time away from Vienna. She often lived abroad, especially in Hungary and at her beautiful villa in Corfu.
Elisabeth's Legacy
Elisabeth has become a very famous and romantic figure in history. This is partly because of a series of popular movies from the 1950s called Sissi. These movies starred the actress Romy Schneider and helped many people learn about Elisabeth's life.
Images for kids
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Elisabeth at 11 years old, with her brother Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, and their dog "Bummerl" at Possenhofen Castle
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The young Elisabeth shortly after becoming Austrian Empress (by Amanda Bergstedt, 1855)
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Equestrian portrait of Elisabeth at Possenhofen Castle, age 15, 1853
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Empress Elisabeth with her two children and a portrait of her late daughter Sophie, 1858
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Portrait of Elisabeth showing her long hair (by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1864). This was one of the emperor's favorite portraits.
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An old picture showing the Hungarian royal family at Gödöllő Palace (around 1870)
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Empress Elisabeth with Emperor Franz Joseph (before 1898)
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The coronation of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth as King and Queen of Hungary
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A photograph of Elisabeth as Queen of Hungary (by Emil Rabending, 1867)
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Elisabeth's desk at the Achilleion in Corfu
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Elisabeth in a mourning dress by Philip de László, 1889
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Thought to be the last photo taken of Elisabeth in Territet, Switzerland, a week before she passed away
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The funeral procession in Vienna, (September 17, 1898)
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Empress Elisabeth's tomb next to her husband Franz Joseph in Vienna's Imperial Crypt. Their son Rudolf's tomb is on the other side.
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A monument to Empress Elisabeth in Vienna's Volksgarten
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A seated statue of Elisabeth in Vienna's Volksgarten
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A memorial statue in Territet
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A sculpture of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary in Matthias Church, Budapest
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Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Courtly Gala Dress with Diamond Stars by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1865
See also
In Spanish: Isabel de Baviera para niños
