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65-453: The gardens were initially laid out circa 1850 by Count Joseph von Trauttmansdorff (1788-1870) during the castle's restoration. Empress Elisabeth of Austria was a frequent visitor to Meran and the gardens. A bronze bust in her memory was placed in the gardens after her assassination in Geneva in 1898. After being used for other purposes the original gardens disappeared. Between 1994 and 2001,

130-511: A dower equal to US$ 240,000 as of 2015. After enjoying an informal, unstructured childhood, Elisabeth, who was shy and introverted by nature, and more so among 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

195-453: A lady-in-waiting reported that "she eats properly, sleeps well, and does not tight-lace anymore", her clothing from this time until her death still measured only 47–49.5 cm (18 ½–19 ½ inches) around the waist, which prompted the Prince of Hesse to describe her as "almost inhumanly slender". She developed a horror of fat women and transmitted this attitude to her youngest daughter, who

260-569: A murder–suicide at his hunting lodge at Mayerling in 1889 was a blow from which the Empress never recovered. She withdrew from court duties and travelled widely, unaccompanied by her family. In 1890, she had the palace Achilleion built on the Greek island of Corfu . The palace featured an elaborate mythological motif and served as a refuge, which Elisabeth visited often. She was obsessively concerned with maintaining her youthful figure and beauty, developing

325-624: A Queen is to give an heir to the throne. If the Queen is so fortunate as to provide the State with a Crown Prince this should be the end of her ambition – she should by no means meddle with the government of an Empire, the care of which is not a task for women... If the Queen bears no sons, she is merely a foreigner in the State, and a very dangerous foreigner, too. For as she can never hope to be looked on kindly here, and must always expect to be sent back whence she came, so will she always seek to win

390-549: A cold shower every morning (which in later years aggravated her arthritis ) and an olive-oil bath in the evening. Herzog-Max-Palais Herzog-Max-Palais was a neoclassical palace at Ludwigstraße 13 in Munich , Germany. It belonged to the House of Wittelsbach and was built from 1828 to 1830 for Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria , father of Empress Elisabeth of Austria . In 1937,

455-484: A completely new garden was planted around the castle. In 2001 the new Trauttmansdorff botanical gardens were opened to public. Today, the castle grounds contain about 80 dedicated gardens with local and exotic plants, organized by region of origin, including typical landscapes of South Tyrol . Principal features of interest include: The gardens also contain Aesculapian Snakes in their natural habitat, courtesy of

520-449: A coronation gift, Hungary presented the royal couple with a country residence in Gödöllő , 32 kilometres (20 mi) east of Budapest . In the next year, Elisabeth lived primarily there, leaving her neglected and resentful Austrian subjects to trade rumors that if the infant she was expecting were a son, she would name him Stephen, after the patron saint and first king of Hungary . The issue

585-561: A fourth child. Her decision was at once a deliberate personal choice and a political negotiation: by returning to the marriage, she ensured that Hungary, with which she felt an intense emotional alliance, would gain an equal footing with Austria. The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 created the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Andrássy was made the first Hungarian prime minister and in return, he saw that Franz Joseph and Elisabeth were officially crowned King and Queen of Hungary in June. As

650-415: A more domestic life with him. Their correspondence increased during their last years, however, and their relationship became a warm friendship. The Empress slept very little and spent hours reading and writing at night, and even took up smoking, a shocking habit for women, which made her the further subject of already-avid gossip. She had a special interest in history, philosophy, and literature, and developed

715-428: A narrow or steep staircase. Early in her marriage she was surprised to learn that she was pregnant; she gave birth to her first child, daughter Sophie Friederike Dorothea Maria Josepha (1855–1857), just 10 months after her wedding. The elder Archduchess Sophie, who often referred to Elisabeth as "a silly young mother", not only named the child after herself without consulting the mother, but she took complete charge of

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780-712: A number of political prisoners at her suggestion. In 1857, Elisabeth visited Hungary for the first time with her husband and two daughters, and it left a deep and lasting impression upon her, which many historians attribute to the fact that in Hungary, she found a welcome respite from the constraints of Austrian court life. It was "the first time that Elisabeth had met with men of character in Franz Joseph's realm, and she became acquainted with an aristocratic independence that scorned to hide its sentiments behind courtly forms of speech... She felt her innermost soul reach out in sympathy to

845-520: A pillow on a metal bedstead, which she believed was better for retaining and maintaining her upright posture; either raw veal or crushed strawberries lined her nightly leather facial mask. She was also heavily massaged, and often slept with cloths soaked in either violet- or cider-vinegar above her hips to preserve her slim waist; her neck was wrapped with cloths soaked in Kummerfeld-toned washing water. To further preserve her skin tone, she took both

910-413: A possible engagement for Sisi. The Duchesses traveled from Munich in several coaches, but arrived later than planned due to migraine prone Ludovika enduring an episode. The Duchess had to interrupt their journey to allow her time to recover, causing the coaches to get separated and the one with their gala dresses never arrived. On their way to Bad Ischl, they visited Leopoldskron Palace where Theresa,

975-558: A profound reverence for the German lyric poet and radical political thinker Heinrich Heine , whose letters she collected. She tried to make a name for herself by writing Heine-inspired poetry. Referring to herself as Titania , William Shakespeare 's Fairy Queen, Elisabeth expressed her intimate thoughts and desires in a large number of romantic poems, which served as a type of secret diary. Most of her poetry relates to her journeys, classical Greek and romantic themes, and ironic commentary on

1040-545: A recurrence of her lung disease. A fresh rest cure was advised, this time on Corfu , where she improved almost immediately. If her illnesses were mostly psychosomatic , abating when she was removed from her husband and her duties, her eating habits were definitely causing physical problems as well. In 1862, she had not seen Vienna for about a year when her family physician, Fischer of Munich, examined her and observed serious anemia and signs of dropsy . Her feet were sometimes so swollen that she could walk only laboriously, and with

1105-465: A restrictive diet and wearing extremely tightlaced corsets to keep her waist looking very small. While travelling in Geneva in 1898, Elisabeth was fatally stabbed in the heart by an Italian anarchist named Luigi Lucheni . Her tenure of 44 years was the longest of any Austrian empress. Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie was born on 24 December 1837 in the Herzog-Max-Palais in Munich , Bavaria . She

1170-615: A sensation in her own right wherever she went. She carried a white parasol made of leather in addition to a concealing fan to hide her face from the curious. At 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in), Elisabeth was unusually tall for her time. Through fasting and exercise such as gymnastics and riding, she maintained her weight at approximately 50 kg (110 pounds) for most of her life. In deep mourning after her daughter Sophie's death, Elisabeth refused to eat for days – a behavior that would reappear in later periods of melancholy and depression. Whereas she previously had supper with

1235-558: A theory that some of her complaints were stress-related and psychosomatic. Rudolf was now four years old, and Franz Joseph hoped for another son to safeguard the succession. Fischer claimed that the health of the Empress would not permit another pregnancy, and she would need to visit Kissingen regularly for a cure. Elisabeth fell into her old pattern of escaping boredom and dull court protocol through frequent walking and riding, using her health as an excuse to avoid both official obligations and sexual intimacy. Preserving her youthful appearance

1300-641: The Alpine Zoo of Innsbruck , an aviary , a Japanese alluvial forest, rice terraces , and tea plantations. [REDACTED] Media related to Botanical gardens in Merano at Wikimedia Commons Elisabeth, Empress of Austria Elisabeth (born Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria ; 24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898), nicknamed Sisi or Sissi , was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I on 24 April 1854 until her assassination in 1898. Elisabeth

1365-700: The Bazar de la Charité in 1897. After Rudolf's death she was thought to have dressed only in black for the rest of her life, although a light blue and cream dress discovered by The Hofburg's Sisi Museum dates to this time. To compound her losses, Count Gyula Andrássy died on 18 February 1890. "My last and only friend is dead," she lamented. Elisabeth's youngest daughter Marie Valerie declared, "...she clung to him with true and steadfast friendship as she did perhaps, to no other person." The Mayerling incident increased public interest in Elisabeth, and she continued to be an icon and

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1430-832: The Empress of Austria , was born in the palace on 24 December 1837. In 1937, the palace was destroyed as part of the Nazi Party 's urban redevelopment plan, and Heinrich Wolff began building a neoclassical building for the Munich branch of the Reichsbank in its place. The building was completed in 1951 by Carl Sattler and today houses the headquarters of the Bundesbank in Bavaria . German architect Erwin Schleich described Herzog-Max-Palais as "probably

1495-460: The Habsburg dynasty . Her wanderlust is defined by her own work: O'er thee, like thine own sea birds   I'll circle without rest For me earth holds no corner   To build a lasting nest. Elisabeth was an emotionally complex woman, and perhaps due to the melancholy and eccentricity that was considered a given characteristic of her Wittelsbach lineage (the best-known member of

1560-539: The Imperial Villa at Bad Ischl was fitted with gigantic mirrors so that she could correct every movement and position. She took up fencing in her 50s with equal discipline. She rode every day for hours on end, becoming a skilled horsewoman, possibly the best-known of her time. When, due to sciatica , she could no longer endure long hours in the saddle, she substituted with walking, subjecting her attendants to interminable marches and hiking tours in all weather. In

1625-407: The Empress astonished her travelling companions when she unexpectedly visited a restaurant incognito, where she drank champagne, ate a broiled chicken and an Italian salad, and finished with a "considerable quantity of cake". She may have satisfied her urge to binge in secret on other occasions; in 1881, she purchased an English country house and had a spiral staircase built from her sitting room into

1690-507: The Hungarians "was returned with interest and still declared, thirty-six years after her assassination, with all the ardour of Burke for Marie Antoinette ." This same trip proved tragic when both of Elisabeth's daughters became ill. While Gisela recovered quickly, two-year-old Sophie grew steadily weaker before finally succumbing to her illness and dying. It is generally assumed today that she died of typhus . Her death pushed Elisabeth, who

1755-604: The King by other than natural means; she will struggle for position and power by intrigue and the sowing of discord, to the mischief of the King, the nation, and the Empire... Her mother-in-law is generally considered to be the source of the malicious pamphlet although there is no evidence supporting that claim. The accusation of political meddling referred to Elisabeth's influence on her husband regarding his Italian and Hungarian subjects. When she traveled to Italy with him, he granted amnesty to

1820-468: The Queen Dowager of Bavaria was in mourning for her brother Georg , so they were dressed in black and unable to don more suitable clothing before meeting the young Emperor. While black did not suit 18-year-old Helene's dark coloring, it made her younger sister's blonder looks more striking. Helene was a pious, quiet young woman, and while she and Franz Joseph felt ill at ease in each other's company, he

1885-495: The baby, refusing to allow Elisabeth to breastfeed or otherwise care for her own child. When a second daughter, Gisela Louise Marie (1856–1932), was born a year later, the Archduchess took this baby away from Elisabeth as well. The fact that she had not produced a male heir made Elisabeth increasingly unwanted in the palace. One day, she found a pamphlet on her desk with the following words underlined: ...The natural destiny of

1950-515: The conclusion that if you would trust him – and trust him entirely – we might still be saved, not only Hungary, but the monarchy, too... I can assure you that you are not dealing with a man desirous of playing a part at any price or striving for a position; on the contrary, he is risking his present position, which is a fine one. But approaching shipwreck, he, too, is prepared to do all in his power to save it; what he possesses – his understanding and influence in

2015-571: The country – he will lay at your feet. For the last time I beg you in Rudolf's name not to lose this, at the last moment... ...If you say 'No', if at the last moment you are no longer willing to listen to disinterested counsels. Then... you will be relieved forever from my future... and nothing will remain to me but the consciousness that whatever may happen, I shall be able to say honestly to Rudolf one day: "I did everything in my power. Your misfortunes are not on my conscience." When Elisabeth

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2080-469: The couple had never met, Franz Joseph's obedience was taken for granted by the Archduchess, who was once described as "the only man in the Hofburg " for her authoritarian manner. Princess Ludovika and Duchess Helene were invited to journey to the resort of Bad Ischl , Upper Austria to receive his formal proposal of marriage. Ludovika also had the then-15-year-old Sisi accompany them, as Sisi had been mourning

2145-399: The court faded, and she died in 1872. Franz Joseph was passionately in love with his wife, but they had a very complex relationship. He was a stolid and sober man, a political conservative who was still guided by his mother and her adherence to the strict Spanish Court ceremony regarding both his public and domestic life, whereas Elisabeth inhabited a different world altogether. Restless to

2210-511: The dark blonde of her youth to chestnut brunette, took at least three hours. Her hair was so long and heavy that she often complained that the weight of the elaborate double braids and pins gave her headaches. Her hairdresser, Franziska Feifalik  [ de ] , was originally a stage hairdresser at the Wiener Burgtheater . Responsible for all of Elisabeth's ornate hairstyles, she generally accompanied her on her wanderings. Feifalik

2275-465: The end of her life her hair was described as "abundant, though streaked with silver threads". Elisabeth used these captive hours during grooming to learn languages; she spoke fluent English and French, and added modern Greek to her Hungarian studies. Her Greek tutor, Constantine Christomanos , described the ritual: 'Hairdressing takes almost two hours,' she said, 'and while my hair is busy, my mind stays idle. I am afraid that my mind escapes through

2340-467: The family being her favorite cousin, the eccentric Ludwig II of Bavaria ), she was interested in the treatment of the mentally ill. In 1871, when the Emperor asked her what she would like as a gift for her Saint's Day , she listed a young tiger and a medallion, but: "...a fully equipped lunatic asylum would please me most". In 1889, Elisabeth's life was shattered by the death of her only son Rudolf , who

2405-463: The family, she now began to avoid this; and if she did eat with them, she ate quickly and very little. Whenever her weight threatened to exceed 50 kilos, a "fasting cure" or "hunger cure" would follow, which involved almost complete fasting. Meat itself often filled her with disgust, so she either had the juice of half-raw beefsteaks squeezed into a thin soup, or else adhered to a diet of milk and eggs. Elisabeth emphasised her extreme slenderness through

2470-610: The front with hooks and eyes, but Elisabeth had more rigid, solid-front ones made in Paris out of leather, "like those of Parisian courtesans ", probably to hold up under the stress of such strenuous lacing, "a proceeding which sometimes took quite an hour". The fact that "she only wore them for a few weeks" may indicate that even leather proved inadequate for her needs. Elisabeth's defiant flaunting of this exaggerated dimension angered her mother-in-law. Although on her return to Vienna in August 1862,

2535-400: The hair and onto the fingers of my hairdresser. Hence my headache afterwards.' The Empress sat at a table which was moved to the middle of the room and covered with a white cloth. She was shrouded in a white, laced peignoir , her hair, unfastened and reaching to the floor, enfolded her entire body. Elisabeth used cosmetics and perfume sparingly, as she wished to showcase her natural beauty. On

2600-617: The kitchen, so that she could reach it in private. It has been suggested by historians that these habits indicate a restrictive eating disorder. Walter Vandereycken, a professor of psychology, has stated that: "numerous documents repeatedly describe her considerable fear of weight gain and the psychopathological changes specific for anorexia nervosa ." She is known as one of the most beautiful and famous women of 19th century Europe. In addition to her rigorous exercise regimen, Elisabeth practiced demanding beauty routines. Daily care of her abundant and extremely long hair, which in time turned from

2665-402: The last years of her life, Elisabeth became even more restless and obsessive, weighing herself up to three times a day. She regularly took steam baths to prevent weight gain; by 1894, she had wasted away to near emaciation , reaching her lowest point of 43.5 kg (95.7 lbs). There were some aberrations in Elisabeth's diet that appear to be signs of binge eating . On one occasion in 1878,

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2730-452: The news to Vienna also signaled an increase in her influence at court. This, combined with her sympathy toward Hungary, made Elisabeth an ideal mediator between the Hungarians and the Emperor. Her interest in politics had developed as she matured; she was liberal-minded, and placed herself decisively on the Hungarian side in the increasing conflict of nationalities within the empire. Elisabeth

2795-422: The other hand, to preserve her beauty, she tested countless beauty products prepared either in the court pharmacy or by a lady-in-waiting in her own apartments. She appeared to favor "Crème Céleste" (compounded from white wax, spermaceti , sweet almond oil, and rose water ), but also used a wide variety of other facial tonics and waters. Her night and bedtime rituals were just as demanding. Elisabeth slept without

2860-648: The palace was destroyed by the Nazi Party in order to widen the Ludwigstraße. The successor construction was started in 1938 by Heinrich Wolff for the Reichsbank and was completed in 1951 for the Deutsche Bundesbank . Herzog-Max-Palais filled a block of the Ludwigstraße between the former Frühlingsstraße (now Oskar-von-Miller-Ring) and the Schönfeldstraße (now Rheinbergerstraße). The three-story building

2925-484: The point of hyperactivity , naturally introverted , and emotionally distant from her husband as she got older, she fled him as well as her duties at the Vienna court, avoiding them both as much as possible; as a means of escape from her life and her misery, Elisabeth embarked on a life of endless travel and saw little of her children. Franz Joseph indulged her wanderings, but constantly and unsuccessfully tried to tempt her into

2990-490: The practice of tightlacing . During the peak period of 1859–60, which coincided with Franz-Joseph's political and military defeats in Italy , her sexual withdrawal from her husband after three pregnancies in rapid succession, and her losing battle with her mother-in-law for dominance in rearing her children, she reduced her waist to 40 cm (16 inches) in circumference. Corsets of the time were split- busk types, fastening up

3055-441: The protocols of court. Sisi and her siblings grew up in an unrestrained, unstructured environment; she often skipped her lessons to go riding in the countryside. In 1853, Archduchess Sophie , the domineering mother of 23-year-old Emperor Franz Joseph I , preferring a niece to a stranger for her daughter-in-law, arranged a meeting between her son and her sister Princess Ludovika's eldest daughter, Duchess Helene ("Néné"). Although

3120-475: The proud, steadfast people of this land..." Unlike Archduchess Sophie, who despised the Hungarians , Elisabeth felt such an affinity for them that she began to learn Hungarian. In turn, the country reciprocated in its adoration of her. Writing about his visit to Hungary in 1934, Patrick Leigh Fermor notes that Elisabeth's picture was "framed on desks and tables and grand pianos", and that her love for Hungary and

3185-474: The rearing of Elisabeth's daughters, one of whom, Sophie , died in infancy. The birth of a son, Crown Prince Rudolf , improved Elisabeth's standing at court, but her health suffered under the strain. As a result, 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 Elisabeth's only son and his mistress Mary Vetsera in

3250-476: The recent death of the young Count she had loved, and had fallen into a lengthy depression. Ludovika hoped the change of scenery would cheer her up. Additionally, Archduke Karl Ludwig , Franz Joseph's second younger brother, would also be joining the Imperial family. Karl Ludwig and Sisi had formed a close friendship in childhood, exchanging letters and gifts. Her mother hoped them seeing each other again would end with

3315-415: The support of others. On medical advice, she went to Bad Kissingen for a cure. Elisabeth recovered quickly at the spa, but instead of returning home to assuage the gossip about her absence, she spent more time with her own family in Bavaria. She returned in August 1862, shortly before her husband's birthday, but immediately suffered from a violent migraine and vomited four times en route, which might support

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3380-640: Was a personal advocate for the Hungarian Count Gyula Andrássy , who also was rumored to be her lover. Whenever difficult negotiations broke off between the Hungarians and the court, she assisted in resuming them. During these protracted dealings, she suggested to the emperor that Andrássy be made premier of Hungary as part of a compromise, and in a forceful attempt to bring the two men together, strongly admonished her husband: I have just had an interview with Andrássy. He set forth his views clearly and plainly. I quite understood them and arrived at

3445-531: Was already prone to bouts of melancholy, into periods of heavy depression , which would haunt her for the rest of her life. She turned away from her living daughter and began to neglect her. In December 1857, Elisabeth became pregnant for the third time, and her mother, who had been concerned about her daughter's physical and mental health, hoped that this new pregnancy would help her recover. On 21 August 1858, Elisabeth finally gave birth to an heir, Rudolf Franz Karl Josef (1858–1889). The 101-gun salute announcing

3510-519: Was also an important influence in her avoidance of pregnancies: "Children are the curse of a woman, for when they come, they drive away Beauty, which is the best gift of the gods." She was now more assertive in her defiance of her husband and mother-in-law than before, openly opposing them on the subject of the military education of Rudolf, who, like his mother, was extremely sensitive and not suited to life at court. After having used every excuse to avoid pregnancy, Elisabeth later decided that she wanted

3575-549: Was avoided when she gave birth to a daughter, Marie Valerie Mathilde Amalie (1868–1924). Dubbed the "Hungarian child", she was born in Buda 10 months after her parents' coronation and baptised there in April. Determined to bring up this last child by herself, Elisabeth finally had her way. She poured all her repressed maternal feelings on her youngest daughter to the point of nearly smothering her. Sophie's influence over Elisabeth's children and

3640-547: Was born into the Ducal royal branch of the Bavarian House of Wittelsbach but enjoyed an informal upbringing before marrying her first cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I, at 16. The marriage thrust her into the much more formal Habsburg court life, for which she was unprepared and which she found suffocating. Early in the marriage, she was at odds with her mother-in-law, who was also her maternal aunt, Archduchess Sophie , who took over

3705-405: Was built from 1828 to 1830 according to a design by Leo von Klenze for Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria 's brother-in-law Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria . Klenze was also involved in the furnishing of the home, involving artists Wilhelm von Kaulbach , Clemens von Zimmermann , and Robert von Langer, as well as sculptor Ludwig Michael Schwanthaler . Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria , later

3770-486: Was feared by Joseph Škoda , a lung specialist, who advised a stay on Madeira . During this time, the court was rife with malicious rumors that Franz Joseph was having a liaison with an actress named Frau Roll. Elisabeth seized on the excuse and left her husband and children, to spend the winter in seclusion. Six months later, a mere four days after her return to Vienna, she again experienced coughing fits and fever. She ate hardly anything and slept badly, and Škoda observed

3835-466: Was forbidden to wear rings and required to wear white gloves; after hours of dressing, braiding, and pinning up the Empress' tresses, the hairs that fell out had to be presented in a silver bowl to the reproachful Empress for inspection. When her hair was washed with a combination of eggs and cognac once every two weeks, all activities and obligations were cancelled for that day. Before her son's death, she tasked Feifalik with tweezing gray hairs away, but at

3900-649: Was found dead together with his young lover Baroness Mary Vetsera , in what was suspected to be a murder–suicide on Rudolf's part. The scandal was known as the "Mayerling incident" after the location of Rudolf's hunting lodge in Lower Austria , where they were found. Elisabeth never recovered from the tragedy, sinking further into melancholy. Within ten years, she had lost her father, Maximilian Joseph , in 1888; her only son Rudolf in 1889; her older sister Helene in 1890; her mother, Ludovika , in 1892; and her younger sister, Sophie Charlotte , during an accidental fire at

3965-538: Was instantly infatuated with her younger sister. He did not propose to Helene, but instead, he defied his mother and informed her that if he could not have Elisabeth, he would not marry at all. Five days later, their betrothal was officially announced. The couple were married eight months later in Vienna , at the Augustinerkirche , on 24 April 1854. The marriage was finally consummated three days later, and Elisabeth received

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4030-510: Was often literally sewn into her clothes, to bypass waistbands, creases, and wrinkles and to further emphasize the wasp waist that became her hallmark. The empress developed extremely rigorous and disciplined exercise habits. Every castle she lived in was equipped with a gymnasium ; the Knights' Hall of the Hofburg was converted into one, mats and balance beams were installed in her bedchamber so that she could practise on them each morning, and

4095-471: Was still blocked from controlling her son's upbringing and education, she openly rebelled. Due to her nervous attacks, fasting cures, severe exercise regime, and frequent fits of coughing, the state of her health had become so alarming that in October 1860, she was reported to suffer not only from green-sickness , but also from physical exhaustion. A serious lung complaint of "lungenschwindsucht" ( tuberculosis )

4160-557: Was terrified when, as a little girl, she first met Queen Victoria . In her youth, Elisabeth followed the fashions of the age, which for many years were cage-crinolined hoop skirts, but when fashion began to change, she was at the forefront of abandoning the hoop skirt for a tighter and leaner silhouette. She disliked both expensive accoutrements and the protocol that dictated constant changes of clothing, preferring simple, monochromatic riding habit -like attire. She never wore petticoats or any other "underlinen", as they added bulk, and

4225-454: Was the third child and second daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria , the half-sister of King Ludwig I of Bavaria . Maximilian was considered peculiar; he loved circuses and traveled the Bavarian countryside to escape his duties. The family's homes were the Herzog-Max-Palais in Munich during winter and Possenhofen Castle in the summer months, far from

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