Empress Sisi: An Imperial Casualty? History & Facial Re-creations | Royalty Now

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Empress Sisi was a woman who felt defined by her beauty. First, when her husband Franz Josef of Austria fell in love with her at first sight, when she was only 16. And then, when she became celebrated by her empire for her beauty. However, the free-spirited Sisi felt deeply trapped by court life, her domineering mother in law, and the gossip that surrounded her because of her quirky personality.
0:00 Early Life
1:59 Marriage to Franz Joseph
8:35 Tension Between Austria & Hungary
13:41 Appearance & Beauty
15:42 Austro-Hungarian Empire
17:29 World Travels
18:41 Son’s Death
19:47 Assassination
22:13 Re-creations Revealed
However, her life was certainly not defined by her appearance. She was an amazing advocate for Hungarian rights, at a time where Austria was trying to absorb the region in authoritarian rule. She cared deeply about ordinary people, and was a woman known for her free spirit and authenticity. Sisi swam naked in the ocean, loved researching medical innovations, wrote poetry, and even got an anchor tattoo on her shoulder to represent her love of the sea.
In her mid-twenties, Empress Sisi began to become almost pathologically obsessed about her appearance, developing a toxic relationship with food and exercise. As we know now, eating disorders are often an issue of control. It’s possible that Sisi felt so trapped that her body was the only thing she felt was under her personal control. Mental illness, mainly depression, was also known to have run in her family.
Standing at 5’8”, Sisi never weighed more than 110 pounds, and was known throughout Europe for her insanely small waist, measuring only 16” for most of her life. She resented that she was forced to appear in public during her pregnancies.
In fact, she actually developed a “horror of fat women”, something which she passed down to her youngest daughter, who was terrified when, as a little girl, she first met Queen Victoria.
She ate extremely little, usually only milk and eggs, sometimes paired with a thin broth, and would spend hours exercising daily, riding horseback, or walking, and demanded a gym be built in any palace she stayed in.
Her hair was another vanity - falling almost to her ankles, she had her dark chestnut hair cared for in a 3-hour daily routing. If any hairs fell out in the middle of the process, she demanded that each hair be collected, and presented to her for inspection in a silver bowl.
Once a week, her schedule was cleared to accommodate washing it. Sisi would sit for hours as her hair was washed with cognac and eggs.
She was very particular about portraits of herself - during the mid 1860s we have these two portraits of her: The Winterhalter Portrait and the Georg Raab portrait, painted in her late twenties. In order to appear “eternally youthful”, Sisi didn’t allow photographs to be taken of herself after around the age of thirty. And although she lived to sixty, her last official portrait was made when she was 42.
Sisi has a bit of an enigmatic face - looking slightly different in each image, but her defining features are her beautiful dark eyes and unique lips, making it easy to see why Franz Joseph fell in love with her at first sight.
I’ve brought Sisi to life by compositing images of her over time. I wanted to make her look more like her photographs of course, which vary slightly from the stylized painted portraits.
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[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

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[@mousemd]

Absolutely Gorgeous!

[@user-nf2tn6hw9c]

Your vids are always amazing and so are the reactions her smile is so pretty and I love your vids more than anything

[@chanterellebourgeois]

Thank you for such a great video ❤

[@natofostar6424]

Jesus of Nazareth and Ned Kelly pls 😊

[@wendysanders2535]

😊​@@user-nf2tn6hw9c

[@Dlineman91]

I am from Hungary and I can confirm, that hungarian people still think about Empress Sisi with love and respect. Very good video about her life and very nice recreation.

[@junewilson1629]

Germany here ~ and yes she did have all the characteristics the regular citizens would appreciate. In many ways to me there was a heavy correlation between Sisi and Princess Diana. They both had monster-in-laws who didn't want them to be mothers to their children but pawn them off to either nannies (in Princess Diana's case) or control freaking granny (Auntie Sophie). Both women had utter respect and recognition for the "menials" who weren't so privileged. Both women had a tendency to sincerely help and they WERE sincere and did not judge. And unfortunately, both women were utterly miserable. That golden cage of theirs was just too oppressive. They did not know who to trust. They both got clobbered with policy and procedures when they were really really young and they both were essentially hosts to produce an heir. Though the heir production that was the expectation in those roles. And both women were shunned by the palace (respectively) if not with gossip, then with utter contempt in how they were treated.

[@shelleyj3704]

Fascinating story. Sisi continues to be much more popular and well-known in Europe than in the U.S.; this is a great introduction to her life and times.

[@mousemd]

Right. I have never heard of her. Although she was an ancestor of the man who was shot that started WWI?

[@kiiuno5783]

​@@mousemdNah, he was more, like, a nephew of hers than a son, so, a definite no to that.

[@brandonsGdup]

Some of us do know her story ., but Netflix does have a show chronicling her life in “The Empress “ it’s actually very well done .

[@brandonsGdup]

@mousemd it was her husband Franz Joseph’s brothers son . I def spend too much time on European monarchies even the obsolete ones.

[@Anita-rq9ev]

She grew up as a free spirit. I guess, the court felt like a cage, she had to obey and her mother-in-law made her life even more complicated. Probably that's why she got sick at court and as soon as she got out, felt better. It goes to show that you can't heal in an environment you got sick in the first place. Loved this video. Your narration was top notch. Great work 👍

[@dragnflei]

The situation with her mother in law is like something out of a dark fairytale. The Hapsburg court in general seems like a stifling, unhappy place.

[@malena5026]

Sophie was bedded in protocol, status and etiquette.She was told the only thing that mattered was Habsburgs glory so she gave that to her sons and the people around her. Both where bound to the time they lived in. She also tried to help her adjust to her role and the court not all the evil mother in law

[@dragnflei]

@@malena5026 True. “Bound to the time they lived in” is a good way to think of it.

[@WNML20]

@@malena5026 It's also important to note how Franz Joseph came to be the emperor, because the previous emperor wasn't his dad but his uncle. During the uprisings in 1848 his uncle was deemed too weak to lead the Monarchy and so Sophie convinced her husband to abdicate and leave the throne to the then 18 years old Franz Jospeh. He ended the uprisings and with the "advice" of his mother started his reign in a very militaristic and totalitarian way. He was very young when he came into power and that gave his mother the chance to ensure her power in court. It is said that choosing Sisi as his wife was the only rebellion against Sophie that Franz Joseph ever staged. In the end nobody was happy. ☹

[@AnnaLee33]

The modern day Habsburg family doesn't reign anymore, so all of this is the past.

[@paytonriley6981]

I’ve been fascinated by Sisi’s story ever since I learned about the Austrian musical “Elisabeth” about her. Although she was not a perfect person, she was a very intelligent and influential woman who suffered greatly for reasons beyond her own control. Above all else, Sisi wanted to be happy and loved, as we all do. Rest in Peace, Empress Sisi, I hope that you found the peace and happiness you were looking for.

[@melissah4084]

I love that you included her anchor tattoo. What a life she lead! Thank you!

[@bexfisch80]

I'm reading a biography about Sisi now! I got it while visiting Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna last summer with my husband and baby. It's such a stunning building but also carried so much sadness. I truly feel bad for Sisi and her mental health. I also feel bad for Franz; I think he genuinely loved her but was stuck under the thumb of his domineering mother "the secret empress" and it totally ruined their marriage. I think if Sophie had been less involved, they both would have been much happier.

[@shep6471]

The way I wanted to cry when she smiled 😭 This poor woman. I hope she was finally able to rest easy.

[@willmartin7293]

Wow. It's no wonder Franz fell in love with her at first sight. She was a beautiful woman.

[@abbatrouble]

It wasn't just her beauty! Diana, Princess of Wales, was pretty (even with that nose!) but no one ever really loved her. She was shallow, not very bright and none of her many many lovers stayed around. There was more to Sisi.

[@kimmycupreacts]

This was awesome! Sisi's free spirit and love of the people remind me a lot of princess Diana's. It's tragic they both died way before their time.

[@stephlang03]

And their eating disorders...

[@mikeyfraile2402]

Sisi and Diana were both beautiful is it envy that make them feel miserible?

[@maxhengst2252]

The work you folks do is very important. It really brings home that these people , when alive, were very real. As a historian I love your contributions to history!

[@katelijnesommen]

The Romy Schneider films, no matter how romanticised, were a staple of my childhood and got me interested in this period of history. A sad story for sure. The newly renovated Sisi museum in Vienna is recommended for anyone who's able to visit it :)

[@lalunalilac]

As a person who has Austrian heritage and knew nothing of my families country... I read so much books on sisi. I read so many historical and biographies of sisi's upbringing. Yes she was in despair at court and was treated as a fool by her mother in law but she was also a free-spirited horse lover with a great passion for poetry and books. She is genuinely such an iconic figure and I love everything about her. I love her flaws as well. I don't think many like her and that is okay everyone has their opinions but she was genuinely interested in the people.

[@lalunalilac]

@@xTapirmaedchen i believed she dealt with mental health. No one is perfect and im not excusing the mental abuse but she definitely had fears of abandonment and took out anger at people

[@lalunalilac]

she was indeed kind to a degree (she hated the court life and the people who tried getting into her business. She removed a lot of austrians and germans from her side to replace them with hungarians and some other ethnicities to keep things personal and private. Some speculate that she did that on purpose because her mother in law sophie hated specific things and Sisi did it in spite of her. Others say that rumors kept spreading around and she had no security or privacy so she changed the people who helped her. Either way... Sisi was awesome! I love her history so much! The gym part was super cool to read about! @@Hadassahtexas

[@InvisibleSeductress]

It's heartbreaking that in those days women were blamed, ostracized or even executed for not giving birth to a male heir. Such tragedy over something they have no control over

[@Youre-Welcome]

Well she had one, but he and his girlfriend killed themselves

[@junewilson1629]

As a matter of fact it is the male's body that supposedly determines the sex of the baby. So yes women were penalized for something for which men were at "fault." And it was a male chauvinistic world back then.

[@GoNavy86]

Makes me want to rewatch The Empress on Netflix 🍿

[@silverjade10]

I think you captured her deep sadness-even while smiling-perfectly in both the modern and contemporaneous recreations. Truthfully, I think her husband was really selfish when he married her.

[@christineschiebel2890]

His family were butchers, they killed to get where they were. Money and power. I think he loved her as one loves possessions.

[@cindy-tron]

No surprise there, especially for the time. Men were very free to be bad actors.

[@willyvonbusche729]

In my opinion you must be an artistic genius. For heavens sake, my lady keep up the good work. I love it.

[@kateross2424]

She was a free spirit who wanted to do everything and wanted to touch people and in a way she has even to this day. She wasnt just beautiful on the outside but also so beautiful on the inside. Even in the recreation she looks so lively yet sad. Truly a beautiful woman with a great heart.

[@glorianelson9538]

What a great story and video. She was a stunning beauty indeed, but also had empathy, and intelligence. Thank you so much for your research and the amazing representation of Sissi.

[@donnasearch1]

One wonders if the Queen Mother tried to poison Sisi every time she returned to Austria. The fact that she became ill every time she returned to Austria is a little sketchy.

[@inaleyen2737]

What rubbish!

[@cindy-tron]

​@@inaleyen2737 based on what? Unless you have proof to the opposite, it's not an outlandish supposition to make, Sophie sounded like a snake of the highest order.

[@inaleyen2737]

@@cindy-tron Based on numerous excellent and well-documented biographies of the Empress Elisabeth, Kaiser Franz-Josef, and the Arch-Duchess Sophie. Unless you have proof that the Arch-Duchess Sophie tried to murder her niece and daughter-in-law, such a supposition is "outlandish".

[@inaleyen2737]

@@cindy-tron Based on having read numerous, well documented biographies of Elisabeth, Emperor Franz-Josef, and the Arch-Duchess Sophie and listened to the comments of Elisabeth's descendants, not silly, sentimental and saccharine fiction like the Sisi films and this video . There is no proof that the Arch-Duchess Sophie intended to murder her niece and daughter-in-law nor that she was a "snake of the highest order".

[@inaleyen2737]

@@cindy-tron Based on having read numerous well-documented biographies and listened to interviews with the descendants of Empress Elisabeth and Franz-Josef.

[@mwilliams369]

Such a beautiful rendition on Empress Sissi. Your work is always delightful and impeccable. Thank you so much 💖

[@fobbitoperator3620]

The anchor tat on her finger was a nice touch. You have an incredible talent of oratory presentation, & CGI art!

[@szesze-bw8fz]

Sissi lived in a tumulous period and her life story was a roller coaster ride of dramatic events and emotions! We can all learn from not only her successes but also failures. Your videos are such beautiful works of art, thank you! 🌹💕

[@estherstephens1858]

Stunning beauty back then and “what she would look like today”. Wonderful video.

[@maryhamric]

Just love this. I've been fascinated by her. She was really a prisoner, no wonder she reached for what she could control - her body and her hair.

[@monmothma3358]

It always makes a big impression to see these people smile, and Sisi struggled so much with depression, so for you to make her smile... It's moving. I like the sort of guarded, reserved look the modern version has in her eyes - probably true to life. The modern version reminds me of someone, but I can't for the life of me figure out who it is.

[@bellamoe1]

I've been hoping since the empress came out you would make a video on sisi. Thanks so much for this

[@FeddyCake389]

I really love your videos and learn a lot about history characters. Sissi is one of favourite historic people... I'd love to see an Italian important history character, Giuseppe Garibaldi. That would be so nice to see a video about him and see how he would look 💜

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I know very little about Austrian historical figures so this is great fun!

[@mac2807]

Fascinating as always. I was so engrossed in the historic meal that I forgot there was a delicious dessert waiting to be served at the end. :)

[@suran396]

I was so excited to see this. Sissi was my Hungarian father's favorite. Also, I love your recreations, especially when you add the "what she would look like today." Sissi is one of the few where the full smile looks natural. There are a few others but on most of them it's just too big and doesn't look right. I am so glad Sissi was one where it looked fabulous. But I was surprised by the "how she would look today." The earring were a poor chocie, but that aside, she appears to be a particularly ordinay attractive woman. Certainly no "great beauty. " How surprising!

[@12thDecember]

Fascinating woman. Beautiful both inside and out. A remarkable life, and much achieved despite the obstacles and personal tragedies. Thank you for this episode. ♥

[@sallylillian2760]

Empress Sisi had the 3/4 angle down

[@tallouse2146]

You have such an amazing gift of bringing the past to life 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ashleystroebel1018]

I watched this twice over, in succession. This, for me, is your best video! The narration, the pictures, and the realisation of her portraits 🎉

[@sunnynights68]

You created her story so beautifully, I got teary at the end when you showed her on the boat with the drink in her hand, seems like the sea was her happy place. ❤

[@sandy444able]

Another beautifully told and well researched video. Seeing Sisi’s face smiling at the end gave me goosebumps.. I have a feeling she didn’t smile much while she was alive. She had such a tragic life. She was a beautiful, free spirited soul who was caged by the confining and suffocating court life, and abusive mother in law. I would love it if you could do a video of Empress Matilda.. she was another wonderful empress who led a fascinating life.

[@lorrainegrey9120]

One of the reasons Elisabeth seldom smiled or only with her lips compressed was because she had rather bad teeth, thanks to centuries of inbreeding (her own parents were first cousins.) And as she got older and spent more time outdoors on her epic walks or riding her horses (Her hunting seasons in the UK and her friendship/ flirtation with her hunting pilot were not mentioned here) the skin on her face and hands became tough, red, and full of fine lines. The diets she followed did not help. So she likely felt justified in not having further photos or portraits done.

[@flatworm00]

WOW! Your re-creations never cease to amaze me... They are fantastic!!!

[@itsmyworldonly0827]

This has nothing to do with this video but I just wanted to say I’m so obsessed with this channel I would love to see a video on the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Specifically a woman named Hurrem

[@gavinfreedman4342]

Marvellous and brought a smile to my face as always.

[@nancygarido0000]

Thank you for this channel...absolutely my go to channel!! Great work!!

[@gorgonheap9770]

This one brought tears to my eyes. As always, incredibly well done and informative.

[@enduringhope6859]

I appreciate the story behind each of your presentations. It brings your creations to 'life'. Thank you.

[@42kellys]

Thank you for this beautiful video and also for being quite accurate and respectful about both Sissy and Hungary/Hungarians and our history as well as her role in it.

[@jacquimg2469]

I love this channel. The bios and recreations are fascinating. Thank you very much for all the research.

[@gluteusuterus5592]

Fantastic recreation ❤️ she definitely reminds me a bit of Julia Roberts

[@valarya]

This was well done. As always. 🥰 After watching The Empress series on Netflix I became obsessed to learn everything I could about her story, so this was extra cool. Thank you!

[@annfridinger1307]

This is absolutely one of my favorite channels on KZbin. Aside from the deft facial recreations, I have learned more history than I ever did in high school or college. A true gem .. Thank you for the wonderful and thorough workmanship on all levels. 🌺

[@_negentropy_]

Your storytelling is as magic as your re-creations! Well done! 🙌🙌

[@laurawanrooij72]

Been fascinated with her my whole life. I learned so much more information in this video about her while I thought I knew it all. Thank you for teaching me and I love the recreation. Super realistic and timeless beauty

[@crazykittensmiles]

You tell these stories so beautifully. Thank you for making me smile ❤

[@pamelasledge9963]

Loved it, this was excellent storytelling and a beautifully rendition of her portraits👏!

[@mcsexyinc]

I was hoping you would cover her! Thank you for another fantastic video!

[@earth2jennyl]

I just found your channel recently, and I have been watching and loving your videos. I wanted to tell you this is the second time, when your recreation was shown (the first being Mary Queen of Scots), that I just burst into tears. I think somehow seeing them Now as you have made them is bringing me closer to them. I feel such kinship to these women. It is unexplainable to me. I am so grateful to have found your channel, to hear more of their true stories. ❤❤❤

[@ropolito1980]

Aw Sisi, what a beautiful soul

[@jessicanippes1730]

Thank you so very much, I have waited for your "Sisi" so long and it was great, loved it a lot ❤

[@sarahallegra6239]

Great recreations! I love how free she looks in the boat. She has such an interesting but tragic story.

[@TheNoTillGardener]

Thank-you for this lovely re-creation of a woman who has fascinated me since I was a pre-teen and read a biography of Sisi. The first thing I did when visiting Austria was heading to Schoenbrunn to see the later Winterhalter portrait. Amazing. You brought her to life for me.

[@jeanettenels8501]

Thank you for this beautiful history!

[@stuckinks3569]

Thank you for bringing all these incredible people to life ❤

[@KendallM0219]

I always wondered how do you make your recreations? You never talk about the process. Thank you for the wonderful video

[@EllieDaisy]

In some of the early videos they do explain a bit more of the process, I can’t remember which exactly though sorry x

[@explore_KLEIO]

Another beautifully researched and produced video, Royalty Now team.

[@cindyhigham1853]

Love these biographies and the narrator’s soothing voice!

[@theresahall1490]

I thoroughly enjoyed your work in the history of Sisi. Very Well done! Especially love your creativity of Sisi today portrait, including the beautiful sea background and her tatoo you encorporated on her finger! Awesome work! thank you so much.

[@pollya2404]

Another beautiful video! Thank you. A job well done!

[@bobgrove1832]

I love what you are creating. Keep up the fabulous work.

[@user-st6en5ts1h]

I like to imagine that as a child , Sisi’s life with her siblings was magical , doted on by wonderful parents who loved her to pieces . I can imagine Sisi at the age of maybe three , an impish look on her little face which would induce her father to roar with laughter . Memories such as those would always be hers , and the joy that they would bring her could never be diminished , no matter what challenges that Sisi would face as an adult .

[@ania5038]

Thank you for this. I just went to Austria in August and it is definitely obsessed with Empress Sisi so this is helping me know why.

[@donnalynn2]

This was my favorite one so far. You really do your reaserch.

[@SuperBuickregal]

Thanks! Keep the videos rolling!🥰

[@RoyaltyNowStudios]

Thank you so much!!

[@CathyGray-qe1vg]

Exquisite, informative work. Thank you so much.

[@markc1234golf]

These are unbelievably beautifully done tributes thank you

[@reginaclark1816]

One of your very best ones! Thank you!

[@gregmontalvo2737]

Very well done production. Thank you.

[@tiffanylee5725]

Amazing work as always!! Love all your in-depth backgrounds and then the emotional reveals! Thank you for giving us this connection to those who were once seem as distant-to-virtually-fictional characters in our history books and bringing them to life! That being said, if you could add Empress Sisi's famous second cousin Ludwig II of Bavaria to your to-do list, that would be fantastic :D

[@user-nf2tn6hw9c]

I knew this video would be amazing and it didn’t disappoint all of royalty now’s videos are amazing thank you for the good quality videos and amazing recreations. Also can you consider making a video on the Plantagenet dynasty

[@jumaris28]

Thank you for this beautiful narrated history ❤

[@jenniferbilka31]

Another excellent video!! 💖👏🏻

[@alisonstreet6348]

I so enjoyed this! ❤

[@BernardGreenberg]

I was very touched by this; I had never heard of her until now. The poor woman woman was just a human being who wanted peace, love, caring, to pursue passions, and found herself born into a goddamned chessboard of kings and queens and knights and pawns and suffered greatly for it. At least she gave many people pride and pleasure and improved their lives, and they could return their love to her. Rest in peace, Sisi. I found your recreations touching. Thank you for this work!

[@christiehorn9026]

Really interesting! She lived such a rough life! She was really beautiful!

[@sharonalexa]

So beautifully done. Ty! 🇨🇦

[@cacahuete277]

I swear this KZbin channel is a treasure 💕💕

[@coldlakealta4043]

superlative presentation, as always

[@sammi.mack.]

Beautiful as always, x

[@duncanmckeown1292]

When I was in Vienna several years ago...at the Hapsburg tombs, I saw her memorial strewn with fresh floral wreaths in the Hungarian colours. I knew little of her relationship with that country then, but now I know that the love and respect has been long lasting...and has survived by a century even the Hapsburg monarchy! Truly a great beauty, even by modern standards.

[@mungbean345]

Granted, it was pretty crazy for a woman to get a tattoo at that time, but how odd that she chose an anchor (because sailors also had other motifs), especially since it seems like the last thing she wanted in life was to be anchored. Also, that photograph of Luigi is shocking with his apparently cavalier and remorseless strut. He looks like he thinks he's about to star in a musical.

[@carolyndymond4065]

You amaze me with these skills to bring these people back to life.

[@brittweisz1945]

She reminded me of Catherine, princess of Wales in the modern interpretation, Thank you so much, wonderful video!

[@KiraLyricalMuse]

I like that you included her anchor tattoo in the future portrait

[@christineschiebel2890]

I visited Budapest last fall, the rumor was her last daughter was not her husband's. There is a bridge in Budapest named for her

[@francevenezia]

She was the beautiful picture, and the Court was the regal frame for the picture.

[@kevincooper5656]

That smile, though 🙂

[@Imjetta7]

So interesting, thank you.

[@mcanultymichelle]

Love your work.You help me enjoy history

[@nmernst]

Great video as usual thanks for sharing. She really looks a lot like Holly Marie Combs.

[@kimberlypatton205]

Such a glorious and breathtaking beauty she was! She deserved to be treated better.

[@arlequinacontostavlos2100]

Although she did suffer a lot, I read that because of how unhappy she felt, she was very moody and used to be very harsh on her ladies in waiting and used to slap them in the face too. So she did have bad moments. And as I also read, Rudolph killed himself because as he was heir to the throne, he was a liberal and his father wasn't, so he felt very restrained and he didn't love his wife, that's why he killed himself. And there are others who say he was murdered because he was the only heir of Austria.

[@roberthak3695]

I was a little boy back then but I used to watch an animated series with Sissy. Little did I understand that the events were happening in one of the greatest european empires