is the series on Sissi based on a true story?

On November 22, Netflix unveiled season 2 of The Empressconfirming the worldwide craze for this modern reinterpretation of the life of Elizabeth of Austria, better known under the nickname Sissi. Since the release of the first salvo in September 2022, the series has attracted an audience eager for revisited historical dramas, rising alongside flagship titles like The Crown or The Bridgerton Chronicles. But the question persists: The Empress Is it faithful to the story of Sissi, or is it a fictional rereading?

A Sissi reinvented for a contemporary era

Created by Katharina Eyssen, the series offers a resolutely modern version of the young empress. Where previous adaptations, notably those carried by Romy Schneider, presented Sissi as a gentle and idealized figure, The Empress brings out a complex, rebellious and feminist heroine. Devrim Lingnau, in the title role, embodies an Elizabeth who is dreamy, intrepid and in constant struggle against the oppressive etiquette of the court of Vienna.

Although refreshing, this representation sometimes strays from historical reality. The show focuses above all on her romance with François-Joseph I (Philip Froissant), obscuring certain tensions in their union. If their meeting during a stay in the countryside and their marriage arranged by their respective mothers are true, the production omits darker details, such as Elizabeth's doubts and tears on her wedding day.

A heroine between myth and tragedy

The real Sissi, born Elisabeth von Wittelsbach in 1837, was much more than a romantic symbol. Rebel against conventions, she smoked, rode horses, practiced gymnastics and refused to comply with court codes. His passions for Hungary and poetry, as well as his fascination with beauty, marked his life, but also his suffering. Obsessed with her appearance, she followed a draconian diet and spent hours maintaining her hair.

However, the series still only partially addresses these deep disorders which marked his life, in particular his anorexia and his episodes of depression. These elements, although touched on in the first season, could enrich the intrigues of the next ones.

A romantic fresco

And The Empress does not claim to be a history lesson, it nevertheless offers a spectacular immersion in the splendor of the era. The sumptuous sets, the meticulously designed costumes and the careful staging offer a true visual escape. But this splendor is accompanied by narrative freedoms which serve above all to dramatize the story.

Thus, anecdotes such as the accidental meeting between François-Joseph and Sissi, then dressed in a mourning dress, or the omnipresent role of Archduchess Sophie, demanding and manipulative mother-in-law, are interpreted to accentuate the contrast between the free personality of Sissi and the austerity of the Habsburg court.