About
Known famously by her nickname Sisi or Sissi, she was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from 1854 until her death in 1898. She became a member of the Habsburg house when she married Franz Joseph I on April 24th, 1854. She died after being stabbed by an assassin while traveling through Geneva, Switzerland. She is the longest-reigning Austrian Empress in history at 44 years.
Before Fame
She was born a duchess into the royal Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. Her childhood home was Possenhofen Castle on Lake Starnberg in Bavaria, Germany.
Trivia
She is recognized for her long brown hair, a key feature in her painted portraits. Due to the length of her hair, the care regime and styling process by her hairdresser Franziska Feifalik became notable as it was a multi-hour task.
Family Life
She married Emperor Franz Joseph I when she was 16. Their children included Archduchess Sophie, Archduchess Gisela, Crown Prince of Austria Rudolf, and Archduchess Marie Valerie.
Associated With
Her story has been adapted into many film and television series over the years. She has been portrayed by actresses like Romy Schneider, Arielle Dombasle, and Cristiana Capotondi.
