Sisi's Legacy: The truth about Empress Elisabeth |History Stories Special 

The effort they put into finding actors who look like the people they are portraying--or certainly echo them strongly--is impressive.

I've studied Sissi for a long time. She was a very mentally ill woman who was married at an extremely young age. She likely had borderline personality disorder. Empress Sophie, Franz Joseph's mother, and Sissi's own maternal Aunt, took Sissi's children from her and forbade her from mothering them. Sophie also begrudged Siss's inability to get pregnant in the first few years. I dislike how this documentary acts like Sissi was an absent mother considering 1) she was a literal teenager/young adult when giving birth to these children 2) she was forbidden from mothering them by Sophie, and 3) she suffered severe eating disorders and mental illness. Sissi was not perfect by any means, but this whole discussion of her comes across as blaming and accusatory. Do better.

The video failed to mention that Sophie, Franz Josef’s mother, took Sisi’s children from her right from birth. She even presumed to name their first child after herself. Sisi never stood a chance to mother her children.

I always have a bone to pick when videos about Sisi are made. I’ve yet to find one that illustrates just how terrible a husband Franz Joseph was to her. Yes he loved her, but not enough to support her and protect her from his awful mother. He let his mom steal Sisi’s children from her. He witnessed her decline in mental health due to this and other factors and wouldn’t do anything to help the woman he claimed to love dearly. He was a perpetual mamma’s boy and never put his wife first in my opinion.

I’ve always wondered how Sisi was able eat so little and not suffer from hair loss due to lack of vitamins.

It is very pleasant to see the clips of Romy Schneider playing the Empress Elizabeth, as she was a very beautiful, intelligent and vastly talented actress who died far too young.

How intriguing! A young woman, both beautiful and wealthy, who dared to shape her life in accordance with her own desires and needs. Let's label her as as vain, difficult and mentally ill. The way I see it, she was savvy enough to break free from a failed marriage, an overbearing mother-in-law, she was savvy enough to make a fortune with her investments and lived by her own rules. Kudos to her for seizing control of her life, and I sincerely hope she discovered some happiness in her extensive travels.

As much as I am also interested in Sissi, I feel like she remains popular in the media mainly because of the halo affect. My first exposure to her was a 2000s kids cartoon called Princess Sissi. Sissi was a stunning and fashionable woman that married young and lived in splendour. This alone gives filmmakers the template to superimpose all sorts of romantic and dramatic stories upon her that appeal to modern audiences. However, beyond the surface she was greatly troubled with mental health issues. She was almost a hermit and had a greatly strained marriage. Overall, she was glamourous but had very little agency. Her story isnt a fairytale, it is a tragedy.

Tragic all around. Sisi never stood a chance if you ask me...not with an overpowering mother in law and strict court life. She controlled the only things she could, her weight and looks. She took to us the Hungarians because we represented a strong character that doesn't give in come hell or high water. Us Hungarians, we genuinely loved her because she understood us and advocated on our behalf. May she RIP

And Franz Josef never stood up to his mother on behalf of Sisi. She may have had her issues, but she didn’t stand a chance against her formidable mother-in-law.

Her mother in law took the children away from SiSi by her mother in law so of course she could not make a good relationship with her children. SiSi came from the small Monarchy of bayern. They had planned for her sister to marry the emperor but he chose SiSi.

It was presented in other documentaries that it was her mother in law who basically took over the children and did not allow Sissy to raise them herself. If that was true I wouldn’t stay around either with no say in the lives of my own children.

I'd also heard that Franz Joseph was "supposed" to marry Sisi's older sister but Franz was bowled over by Sisi's beauty and picked her instead. I don't suppose Sisi had much say in the matter and was unprepared for marriage, much less all the baggage that came with being Empress in a family which lived in a stuffy, aristocratic bubble. Then the mother-in-law berated her during the first few years of her marriage for not getting pregnant right away. When she started producing children the mother in law whisks the first three away in infancy. The youngest daughter was the only one of her children she was "allowed" to raise so no wonder the girl never left her mother's side. Hungary was an escape from her hated life in Vienna. As for Sisi's obsession with her looks and weight, it was the only thing she had control over. Mental illness? Maybe, but the mother-in-law certainly made her contribution to that.

Sisi was heartbroken when her babies were taken from her. The trip to Hungary. Where do I begin. Just eight years after the bloodiest Hungarian revolution and war of independence that was crushed by Russia at the request of Franz Joseph? The event that is still the biggest Hungarian holiday of remembrance to this day? Nobody was welcoming them.

"What was Sisi really like" they say and show the photo of Romy Schneider. Really?

To be fair, it was not at all unusual for noble children to see little or nothing of their parents. They were very often pawns in advancing or consolidating the family's power. It wasn't at all unusual for marriages to be arranged when children were infants. Sisi herself had been handed over in such a marriage. She may not even have liked her husband yet had to be bred by him as if she were a pedigreed mare. It's recorded that her oldest child died in her arms, and that Sisi fell into a very deep state of mourning. It's not surprising that a fragile young woman drew ever deeper into herself and sought escape.

This video leaves so many facts out in order to tear apart Sisi's legacy. She was FIFTEEN when Franz Joseph (23) chose her over her sister to marry. Her youngest daughter was the only child she had been allowed to care for and raise after years of mental and emotional torment by her mother-in-law (who was also her aunt). Franz Joseph allowed his wife to be reduced to the secondary woman in her own home! Her focus on her looks was more about the one thing she could control and not about vanity, she was anorexic and starved herself for days at a time. This is nothing but an assassination of her character!

Little was made of the fact that the Archduchess Sophie, Aunt and mother-in-law of Sisi, deliberately removed not long after birth the first three children. Sisi after a short period of time lost interest in them. It was only Marie-Valerie that she had any connection with. Archduchess Sophie showed little interest in Marie-Valerie and died in 1872.

When I was young ,I used to watched a animation "Princess Sisi ",the Prince also named Franz.I didn't know they exist in real life.

This grabbed my attention & kept it. I'm looking forward to more of your work. Ty!

DW documentaries never disappoint me! As always, a very engaging production. Thank you

I also loved watching my father work, I miss him so much🕊️

She didn’t neglect her children. She has an overbearing mother, and a husband who was complicit at best. Her mother in law dominated her and did not allow her access to her children. She was a child when she was married

The usual amazing work! Love of history reignited!

Beautifully produced and highly educational. Just returned from Vienna and this timely and well researched docudrama is just what I wanted to expand my knowledge. Many thanks DW for another cracking video 👏👍

I think we look at this womans life through modern eyes. I don't think that is fair. Fact, she clearly had both mental and health issues. She was a woman in a time that she was owned by her husband. She had no rights no freedom and no choices. She was never allowed to be a mother in any real sense. Confronted with all of that no wonder her life was unhappy.

Great work DW!! Expert opinions and good amount of re-enactment, it was just perfect. The story of Sissi and her family is always fascinating. Cheers from the Philippines.

Thank you for putting this documentary together I've been looking for an English version of Empress sissi

Wonderfully produced, highly educational. What an incredible documentary...thank you ( DW ) documentary channel for sharing...similar stories were occurred in majority of Monarchy dynasties... of empires historical pages

TY to all the learned and passionate commenters. You have given such great arguments for context, rituals, relationships. This was entirely, a sad pleasure.

Nicely done video with excellent narration.

This is the first time I watched a video paint Sisi in this selfish , and narcissistic light. Idk if other pitied her but her eating disorder and abuse was never even mentioned. I remember the emperors mother purposefully took the children away from her from birth. Interesting

Finally a REAL portrayal of Sissi - warts and all. Thank you.

They Keep talking never mentioning how domineering and suffocating was the Empress Dowager and how weak and distant the Emperor was to her. She could only escape, and Kudos for doing it, but she wasn't the only one doing it: also the Spanish Noble woman who married the Emperor of France did just the same...

Thank you so much for my finding history Channel, when I needed to hear it,...sometimes its just all good to learn new things. 😀 thanks for history Channel :))

What a fascinating history and what an excellent documentary!

For the type of show + channel, the amount of ads is very reasonable! The first 1 I noticed was at about 24:00! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

She was so beautiful, healthy and wealthy woman. She had wonderful children and loving husband. She lived in prosperous country and people loved her. But, nevertheless, she wasn't happy and didn't have a peace of mind! This is so strange and sad! Sisi's life shows that the happiness is not around, but inside the heart or the head of a person. That one can be happy in the cabin, while other will suffer in a palace. Be gracious for what you have! Enjoy what you have! Life is very short!)

Fascinating!

I like the narrator. It is not rushed or sound AI like. Well done on the excellent production.

Very good. Thank you.

I love to learn about history

The novel by Allison Pataki, 'SiSi, an Emptess on Her Own' tell a much different story. SiSi was nothing but a broodmare and $ when she married the emperor. Her mother-in-law never let her forget it.

I have always been interested in SISI but everything was in another language I didn't understand. THANK YOU FOR ENGLISH.!!😊

My grandpa's mom was named Erszebet Szilagy who was the daughter of an Austro-Hungarian duke...I'm Transylvanian 💀👌🏻 nice documentary 💯

They two women just a few mins back said that she probably wouldn’t have been a mother if she had lived during this time because she was so into herself. But when you know that your only job is bear children, I think that may lead to some resentment before they are even born. She knows that she could die during childbirth, but as long as their is a living heir..that’s all that matters. She even knows she can be replaced if she passes away with another Empress. I understand I am only at the beginning but that is heavy weight for any woman. 4:07

Imagine being a grandmother at 36! This highlights the fact she was way too young to get married and take over empress duty. Her really life was way glamourus than in the movie or in popular knowledge. She is so little for her family and didn’t even do anything as an Empress…i am surprised that the Emperor did call for a divorce after all they weren’t living together for so long.

I wonder why Marie Valerie’s personal journals/diaries are still under lock and key, surely her written words about her mother will open a glimpse of how the empress was in a personal level that isn’t already known now

I find it very DISTURBING that these documentaries never acknowledge the abuse these girls/women experienced. Like the fact they were married off before they’d even completed puberty is just pushed aside. They’ll mention her age like it’s no big deal and not even stop to acknowledge the distress girls experience when they get unwanted attention from grown men. I can’t imagine being in a world where you are not only getting unwanted attention but your parents are actually submitting to that man’s demands because of his power. She was just trying to enjoy her childhood and this man decided she was gonna marry him and breed and her parents handed her over with no regard for her physical or mental maturity, health or wellbeing. Teen fertility is low b/c teenagers aren’t supposed to be pregnant. They are at the highest risk of all age groups for mortality and complications for both Mother and child. Millions of girls right now today are cast out for having life destroying fistulas from being pregnant before their 20s. Pressuring a girl to get pregnant by a man she doesn’t even want before she is even mature enough to do so is insane and horrifying. I don’t care how much he supposedly loved her, he was a predator. These royal men knew full well that snatching these young girls up NEVER EVER went well. NEVER. They didn’t care b/c they were creepy freaks and philandering inbreeders. Look at their demented son and the teen girl that he murdered. He probably killed her b/c he’d infected her with whatever filthy life destroying diseases he had.

Thank you for this. I could never understand why the Sisi was and is viewed as some kind Saint. Even in documentaries trying super hard to paint her in a light that borders on delusional, she always seemed like an incredibly vain, selfish, and callous woman to me. The way she treated her 3 older children was neglectful and abusive in the case of her older daughter. The way she treated her younger was quite typical of a hard-core narcissist. The poor girl was born to be a doll an an extension of her mother. I can't even imagine how much she (alone) damaged her children.

thanks from France

Sisi wasn't mentally ill, she was mentally sensitive. I've studies her alot and I know there is too much to study about Sisi because she is an enigma. She was shy and misunderstood. But this goes to a long way to her 15th/16th year when she was proposed and she accepted that proposal in haste because of all romantic feelings that could be associated with a young emperor choosing her instead of her sister. She even implied that if he weren't an emperor, they would be more happy. A girl who had a free spirit, who was more into the nature and horseriding. Who thought circus was a way to brush off mundanity is suddenly pushed into the cage of etiquette, discipline and court for what, for the sake of unity of empire that was already on verge of collapse, still held by Sisi's own efforts towards Hungary. She knew nothing of matrimony, she was ignorant to all physical passions of marriage, yet her marriage was consumated probably without her understanding on the third night. Then pressure of Sophie. No doubt that Sophie wanted good out of her sister's daughter but still in the history they both go down as the ladies misunderstood. Franz Joseph minimal to no support, being a mother at very young age, her children taken away. Then death of one child. Then getting blamed for one. Isn't that enough to break a young girl. Still she persisted, in 1860s when FJ cheated on her, she fled away because it was the only thing that could save her from nervous breakdown. After her return she was decisive in her words when she got Rudolf out of that military school, issued Ischl Ultimatum and then she had put all her efforts towards Hungary when Austria lost against the ambitious Prussia, which wanted to create its own German empire. She saw it was right time to get support of Hungarians because it was in first time in FJ's realm she met these magyar men of character in 1857, so her move was thoughful. Still when courtiers rumoured about Marie Valarie's paternity and then FJ said that he wouldn't allow her in politics from now on, that was a breaking point of her. She took up travelling. The rest we all know the course of her life.

It's important to remember the situation and society at the time to truly understand Empress Elisabeth. She was essentially a wild child who never intended to inherit the crown but fate chose differently. It's not difficult to understand why Sisi fell in love with Hungary and Hungarian society because they were somewhat similar to her Bavarian upbringing compared to the Viennese court which was extremely strict and stiff with rigid etiquette and petty. Although her education was neglected as a child soon became highly educated and a lover of Heine and Kant which only worsen her relationship with the Viennese court because they weren't intellectual. Their only interest was petty gossip, 13 quarterings, and overall the nothingness of their society. And, yes, Sisi became extremely vain thanks to her aunt/mother-in-law who did nothing but criticised her left and right, plus royalty were expected to be an automaton. Even ex-Princess Louise of Saxony talked of this.

She wasn’t an aloof mother. She sounds like a depressed mother who was afraid to love and lose again.

She loved cleaness,details of things and art and she will always be a manager example in everything

She was dysfunctional mother because she was teenage girl who lived in a very free manner before marriage and suddenly had to cope strict mother in law and strict royal etiquette, her children were taken away after their birth by her mother in law and she wasn't allowed to be part of their lives actively. Despite movie romance illusion she didn't love her husband and was trying to avoid pregnancies, that's why she was traveling a lot. She suffered from depression and her obsession with beauty is also a sigh not so good mental health

I recall the films ... Near the end, she raised her arm to oscillate her hand in greeting, and revealed a hairy armpit. I was so impressed. That gorgeous white gown and a wisp of dark hair.

They are very kind 😊 even they put all our names there to all of our family and they treated us with warm respect and caring

Romie was so perfect to play the Empress

Wow, I will never envy those royals again. What a weird life. All that wealth but zero freedom

I learned from infancy to love Sissi, from the Romy Shineider movies, after I learned the bitter reality she went thought she was just 16 years old when she got married, this is a heavy duty. I believe there were a conspiracy to destroy the Habsburg, everything about this is so sad even the life of Romy all a sad novel

Dope docu, reminds me to Diana's story which is totally twisted too

Has there been any publications of Marie’s diaries? Have historians read them? Super curious about that. Thank you 28:28

Great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it, however I was quite amused that I have the same dress as the one the art historian (curator?) was wearing haha (the short beige one with the squiggly belt) (it was zara circa 8 years ago 😃)

I’ve studied Sissi for a long time and contrary to popular opinion, she was not mentally ill. She was indeed a shy woman who dealt with her overbearing mother in law, the stifling formality of Habsburg court life, had difficulty adapting to the Hofburg and its rigid protocols and strict etiquette. Within a few weeks, Elisabeth started to display health problems. She experienced fits of coughing and became anxious and frightened whenever she had to descend a narrow or steep staircase. Then, she in turn became quite ungrateful, selfish, obsessed, and unloving towards her ever loving husband and her children.

Loved these movies of sissies life romi Schneider was very good

It's interesting how many nobles at that time had mental or emotional issues, even if it was simply borderline autism. Their positions and wealth made it possible for them to live apart from the masses of society. Some were very capable monarchs, their educations and attention to detail benefiting their countries. Others lived only in worlds of complete fantasy. By this time, though, the illusion that the nobility was somehow made from finer clay was continuing to be shattered, and people had legitimate questions as to why subpar people were treated with such deference.

I love a good documentary, but there seems to be a quite a biased perspective on Sissi. They talk about how she was "self-centred" "being a mother was never her plan" that "she was never a happy mother". There's little evidence of that. She had her children taken away from her at birth to be raised by her MIL, her MIL also left "anonymous" threatening letters saying that an Emperess that cannot supply a male heir has no value and may be at risk of being discarded. She had only JUST gotten access to her daughter to that trip in Hungary where she passed. She then fell into a deep depression because of the death. If she did not care for her children or for being a mother I do not believe she would have been as devastated as she was for not just her daughter but later her son's loss. It was not uncommon for royalty to have their children taken away from them to be raised by others. It's well known that Catherine the Great also had her children taken at birth to be raised by her MIL. A fact that Catherine also deeply disliked. There is no evidence that these women were given joy by having their children taken away to focus on court affairs. Sissi developed her eating disorder because of her lack of control and deep sadness at the strictness of court. That did not mean she was "self-centred". Leave the poor woman alone, she's already dead.

@3:00 It is unfair and misogynistic to say that if a woman doesn't want children then she is selfish. I feel if you have the choice, and decide not to have kids if you don't want them then you are making a choice that isn't selfish. It is more selfish to have the children in this scenario because you are forcing them to experience your unhappiness with their existence.

Can I just mention that the spelling of the Empress was Elisabeth, not Elizabeth?

I am fascinated by Sisi…..love reading biographies on her. She had mental health issues and was so very vain. I don’t like her, but she continues to fascinate. ❤

This is so interesting. I’ve been to Austria when I was a kid and the family where I lived has video cassettes with Sisi movies. Now I saw the Netflix show. I did not expect the reality was so far from the movies.

A very interesting and insightful documentary. Well done. Empress Elizabeth’s life will always be the subject of much fascination and this well researched film is a fair attempt to distinguish fact from fiction and myth from reality. Thank you DW.

J'adore le couple Ateş&Feraye❤ Merci pour la traduction 😊

It is said Rudolph didn't commit suicide. But, was actually murdered alongside his mistress.

"Erzsi" is hungarian. Short for Erzsébet = Elisabeth.

For the sake of precision Franz Josef's mother Sophia was never Empress. During the 1848 crisis when the childless Emperor Ferdinand had to abdicate, next i line was his brother Franz Karl. He renounced his rights in favour of his own eldest of four sons. That was how Franz Josef became Emperor.

i’d rather know the good and bad parts of historical figures than think they were some angelic being with no flaws. seems like a lot of people don’t want the perfect image they have of sissi to be ruined.

Excellent 😊

Sisi was a very complicated woman. If she had been born in the 21st century where women had more choices, I have no doubt that she would have been much happier.

Rudolph was quite sanitized also, in an American made movie about him.

Diese video ist gans gut

All those poor children look so unhappy and uncomfortable. So sorry for them.

My ancestors my Grandfather and Uncles once becoming Americans they had to denounce loyalty to the Emperor of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Found this out recently.

and it all began with him marrying the wrong sister…

This is a far less sympathetic portrait of Empress Elisabeth then I am used to but it certainly to a fair and unbiased look at her life.

The way the emperor treated his son led to his demise.

I imagine his mistress caught the same STD and that is why he killed her before taking his own life too. There was no real cure after all and he knew how much she would suffer. You'd think people would whore around less knowing you could get "the pox" but nope. Many difficulties with getting an heir seemed to be linked to the man already having an STD that caused miscarriages in the wife and early deaths in the infants until in time a few children survived.

THANK YOU ❤

People whom close to her were possessive and wanting the grandchildren to be exactly how she want it. We call it micro management here... on the modern era. It led her to eternal trauma. Her role as princess might made her robotic (as ironic as it sounds); while she wanting to be otherwise all these while. I love her because she tries to challenge and soften that out; eventhough it is to little success

Take a shot every time they say "Marieee Val-a-rieee".

Katrin Unterreiner's book Sisi Mythos und Wahrheit is very interesting. This is how history should be taught! Re subtitles: what is South kamagot? Salzkammergut by any chance?

Strange how despite not liking the court life and being tossed into a restrictive lifestyle, she was very strict and controlling of Marie Valerie's life the way her mother in law did to her when she wanted to be free of all the snooty attitude and lifestyle of court life and do whatever she chooses

Sisi grew up in the beautiful countryside in Bavaria of Germany. The Austria Emperor Franz was supposed to marry Sisi's older sister. Instead Franze fall in love with Sisi when she was accompanied her older sister to meet the Emperor Franz. I think Sisi would be much happier and healthier if she didn't marry emperor Franz. She was never content and happy in her marriage to Franz and life in the palace. Sisi wasn't mentally ill, but was deeply depressed. If you have read her poems, you would know her inner thoughts and understand her better. I felt sad for her life. But she has left us a legacy, to learn, to think, and to enjoy.

Thank you for this video. What was the cause of death of her first daughter, if you know?

I truly feel people fail to realize sisi never got a chance to live an actual life…😭

I would suggest that it is not only self preoccupied women who are unhappy as mothers, it is self preoccupied people who are unhappy in their entire lives Self preoccupation produces misery and this is not gender specific and this video IMO confirms this

….You state that “All of Sisi’s fortune was lost” after the stock market crash (as it was tied up in stocks)-yet, her daughter, granddaughter & others lived VERY well, able to afford the upkeep of their many properties….So, obviously the prior statement was untrue.

I instantly distrust this documentary since they're saying she was a terrible mother before she even had a chance - given that her kids were taken from her on their birth day.

What's the music playing at 52:07 ??