Empress Elisabeth's Demise
Empress Elisabeth of Austria met a tragic end in Geneva on September 10, 1898. She was fatally stabbed in the heart by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni during her travels.
Losses Within the Imperial Family
The Empress experienced significant personal sorrow through the deaths of her children:
- Princess Sophie: Her firstborn daughter, Sophie, died in infancy. While some historical theories, and portrayals such as in "The Empress," suggest typhoid fever as the cause, her actual cause of death is not definitively known.
- Archduke Rudolf: Elisabeth's only son, Crown Prince Rudolf, was born in August 1858. His later death under tragic circumstances at Mayerling was another profound loss for the Empress.
- Archduchess Marie Valerie: Her youngest daughter, Marie Valerie, born in 1868, outlived her mother.
Emperor Franz Joseph I
Emperor Franz Joseph I, Elisabeth's husband, endured numerous personal and political upheavals throughout his long reign. Contrary to some dramatic depictions that might show him perishing in battle, historical records confirm that Franz Joseph I survived military conflicts, including those against the Kingdom of Piedmont. He passed away in his residence, Schönbrunn Palace, in Vienna in 1916.
Historical Veracity in Portrayals
Certain elements of Empress Elisabeth's life, often dramatized in media, align with historical accounts. For instance, the narrative of Emperor Franz Joseph choosing Elisabeth over her older sister, Duchess Helene in Bavaria ("Néné"), is historically accurate. The timeline from their engagement to their marriage, as sometimes depicted, also generally corresponds with historical events.
