[The image collected June 4, 2018 is purported to be the "true colors," as opposed to other images on various sites. (sh)] Elisabeth of Bavaria (24 Dec. 1837 – 10 Sept. 1898) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, and many other titles by marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I. Elisabeth was born into the royal Bavarian house of Wittelsbach. Nicknamed "Sisi", she enjoyed an informal upbringing before marrying Emperor Franz Joseph I at the age of 16. The marriage thrust her into the much more formal Habsburg court life, for which she was unprepared and which she found uncongenial. Early in the marriage she was at odds with her mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie, who took over the rearing of Elisabeth's daughters, one of whom, Sophie, died in infancy. The birth of a male heir, Rudolf, improved her standing at court, but her health suffered under the strain, and she would often visit Hungary for its more relaxed environment. She came to develop a deep kinship with Hungary, and helped to bring about the dual monarchy of Austria–Hungary in 1867. The death of her only son and his mistress Mary Vetsera, in a murder–suicide at his hunting lodge at Mayerling in 1889 was a blow from which Elisabeth never recovered. She withdrew from court duties and traveled widely, unaccompanied by her family. In 1890, she had a palace built on the Greek Island of Corfu that she visited often. Named Achilleion, after Homer's tragic hero Achilles, the palace featured an elaborate Greek mythological motif and served as a refuge. She was obsessively concerned with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty, which were already legendary during her life. While traveling in Geneva in 1898, she was stabbed to death by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni. Elisabeth was the longest serving Empress of Austria at 44 years. ....In the German-speaking world, Elisabeth's name is often associated with a trilogy of romantic films about her life directed by Ernst Marischka which starred a teenage Romy Schneider: Sissi (1955) Sissi — die junge Kaiserin (1956) (Sissi — The Young Empress) Sissi — Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin (1957) (Sissi — Fateful Years of an Empress) Forever My Love is a condensed version, with the three films edited down into one feature and dubbed in English. This version was released in North America in 1962. In early dramatizations, Elisabeth appears as peripheral to her husband and son, and so is always shown as a mature character. Schneider's characterization of Elisabeth as a young woman is the first time the "young" empress is seen on screen. The trilogy was the first to explicitly depict the romantic myth of Sissi, and ends abruptly with her determination to live a private life. Any further exploration of the topic would have been at odds with the accepted image of the loving wife, devoted mother, and benevolent empress. The three films, newly restored, are shown every Christmas on Austrian, German, Dutch, and French television. In 2007, the films were released as The Sissi Collection with English subtitles. Schneider came to loathe the role, claiming, "Sissi sticks to me like porridge (Haferbrei)." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Elisabeth_of_Austria] Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi, was one of the most distinguished royals-celebrities of the 19th century. In 1854, at the age of 16, she married Emperor Franz Joseph I, becoming Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. The codes and strictures of Viennese court life repressed the young empress’ spirit. For the rest of her life, Sisi suffered from anorexia and depression, maintained a rigorous exercise regimen and wrote dark poetry. Her restlessness and discomfort resulted in seeking refuge in travel.... [http://www.dressful.com/10010/empress-elisabeth-of-austria-sisi-forgotten-clothes]