Empress Elisabeth of Austria, affectionately known as Sisi, wasn’t your typical 19th-century empress. She married Emperor Franz Joseph at just 16, but her life took a dramatic turn as she rebelled against court traditions and pursued a lifestyle that was both fascinating and, at times, unconventional.

A Passion for Freedom and Travel

Unlike most royals, who spent their time in palaces, Sisi had an unquenchable wanderlust. She hated being confined by the strict rules of the Austrian court and spent much of her life traveling. From Greece to England, she sought adventure and freedom, often leaving the imperial court behind for months at a time. Her favorite escape was the Greek island of Corfu, where she had a palace built in homage to her love for ancient Greek culture.

Obsessed with Beauty and Fitness

Sisi’s obsession with her appearance was legendary. She was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time, and she worked hard to maintain that image. She had raw veal masks applied to her face and took strawberry baths to maintain her beauty. Sisi had a strict beauty regime that included hours of daily exercise, such as riding horses, hiking, and gymnastics. She even had a gym installed in her palace! Her waistline was famously tiny, and she wore corsets that kept her waist around 20 inches—a size she was determined to maintain throughout her life.

Her beauty routines were equally intense. Sisi’s famously long hair reached down to her ankles, and it took hours to wash, brush, and style. She would often spend entire mornings having her hair tended to by her personal hairdresser.

A Love for Poetry

While Sisi was admired for her beauty, she was also a sensitive soul who found solace in poetry. She often wrote her own poems, many of which reflected her struggles with the pressures of royal life and her deep yearning for freedom. Her poems were full of emotion, and they revealed her introspective, almost melancholic side. She was particularly inspired by the works of Heinrich Heine, a famous German poet.

An Unconventional Royal

Sisi’s life was far from typical for a royal. She was known for her rebellious streak, refusing to conform to court etiquette and sometimes clashing with her mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie, over her free-spirited ways. Sisi was also deeply interested in nature and preferred spending time outdoors rather than attending royal functions.

A Tragic End

Sisi’s life was marked by personal tragedies, including the death of her son, Crown Prince Rudolf, which left her heartbroken. In 1898, Sisi’s life came to a tragic end when she was assassinated by an Italian anarchist while traveling in Geneva, Switzerland. Her death shocked Europe, as she had become somewhat of an icon due to her beauty, mystery, and unconventional ways.