Netflix’s The Empress is quenching the demand for royal drama following the successes of Bridgerton and The Crown – both of which are in various stages of production for their next seasons. This new historical drama premiered Sept. 29 on the streamer and follows Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria as she struggles with her royal title and the enemies it brings.
Netflix teases, “Elisabeth must find out who she can trust and how high the price is to be a true empress and a figure of hope for the people,” and names Sophie, Elisabeth’s mother-in-law, Maxi, Franz’ brother, and social tensions as Elisabeth’s biggest obstacles.
The new series consists of six episodes and left viewers hungry for more — and curious about whether it’s based on a true story. Continue reading to learn more about the real Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her royal reign.
Is The Empress Based on a True Story?
Yes, The Empress is based on the true story of Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria, who married Emperor Franz of Austria in 1854 at the age of 16 (per History.com). Elisabeth suffered greatly during her time in royalty as she was in high-demand among the press and public, struggled with depression and eating disorders, and later, dealt with the controversial death of her son.
However, the first season of the Netflix drama only delves into Elisabeth’s early years of marriage and Vienna’s rise against the Habsburg Empire. Showrunner Katharina Eyssen explained, “For me, Elisabeth’s struggle for her individual freedom runs parallel to the struggle of the Austrian people. We do not know to what extent Elisabeth dealt with the oppression of her people. There is no diary of her. But the fact is that a strict neo-absolutism prevailed in Austria, which gave the citizens hardly any rights.”
She continued, “The historical Elisabeth, just like our character, was all about self-determination throughout her life. And at the same time, a whole people was fighting against oppression.”
Who Was Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria?
Born into royalty, Elisabeth was the daughter of Duke Maximilian and Duchess Ludovika of Bavaria. According to her biography on AboutVienna.org, she married Franz after he was sent to court her sister, Helene. Upon being married, they faced many difficulties due to Elisabeth’s young age and resistance to the royal duties and protocols – which led to her long feud with her mother-in-law, Princess Sophie of Bavaria.
When it came to public perception, Elisabeth spent the early and mid years of her reign traveling away from the empire to visit Greece, Switzerland, and Hungary. This shifted in 1867, when Hungary joined the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Franz was named King of Hungary. Then, Elisabeth was thought of as a “people’s person” and would often visit local charities and hospitals.
But, throughout it all, Elisabeth suffered with mental illness and, once again, became increasingly withdrawn from the public – most dramatically after her son’s death in 1889.
How did Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria Die?
Elisabeth’s reign came to end while she was visiting Geneva, Switzerland on Sept. 10, 1898. The empress was assassinated by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni. His initial target was Prince Henri of Orléans, but after the prince had canceled his trip to the city, Lucheni decided to stab Elisabeth while she boarded a ship.
Edward Morgan Allborough de Burgh wrote in Elizabeth, Empress of Austria: A Memoir that, upon hearing of her death, Franz thought Elisabeth died of suicide due to her history with mental health. He was convinced otherwise after receiving details of the assassination.
