Why do the people love Sissi??????

[Eric_Lowe]

I think he did. That would explained why she did not allow her husband to come near her (always a member of her family nearby) immediately after her return. I don't think it was a serious condition, but even if it was a mild as lice. It would be enough to push the sensitive woman over the edge. I truly believe her illness was psyclogically induced. That also marked the end of her love for him, she later said she only pity the emperor.

[Imperial_Grounds]

For Sisi it was a fairy tale too (no Camilla Parker-Bowles lurking behind), but the court intrigue and rules (represented by Archduchess Sofie) soon infotrated into her life. Soon she began to feel like a caged bird. Franz Josef failed her too, but his sporedic sexual adventures and kow-towing to his mother. When it overwhelmed her, all she could think about is to flee...

Ofcourse but soon she noticed love would not save them,as soon as she was at court she sensed things were wrong. Even when they just got engaged she said 'If only he was not the Emperor' as if she sensed this would be too much for her.

[paola]

I think he did. That would explained why she did not allow her husband to come near her (always a member of her family nearby) immediately after her return. I don't think it was a serious condition, but even if it was a mild as lice. It would be enough to push the sensitive woman over the edge. I truly believe her illness was psyclogically induced. That also marked the end of her love for him, she later said she only pity the emperor.

When was this, that Franz Joseph supposedly infected Elisabeth with  a venerial disease? In 1860, when she went to Madeira (offical medical report saying she had a lung disease) ?

I think Marie Valerie's birth after ten years of Rudolphs one,  was result of a  short reconciliation between the couple.

[Linnie]

Since none of the biographies about Sissi that I have read mentioned as a fact that Franz-Josef infected Sissi with an venereal disease, I suppose that we can only speculate when it happened. I remember one instance when Sissi had left Vienna and her older sister Helene went to visit with her and then met with the Emperor to "negotiate" Sissi's return to Vienna. I could very well suppose that Sissi left Court at that time because of one of Franz-Josef's indiscretions, which could have had resulted in said disease. Some biographers of Franz-Josef deny that he had a venereal disease, while others insist on it, claiming that he had a milder form of syphilis. Considering the prevalence of syphilis in Vienna and Europe at that time, I wouldn't see why Franz-Josef would not have been infected if he wasn't a faithful husband... That being said, I doubt that Sissi's trip to Madeira was meant to cover her being infected with VD. I can't recall the exact nature of her health problems, then, but TB was rumoured.

[Princess Susan]

Yes, I agree. We can not know, what really happened between them. Supposedly Franz Joseph infected Sisi with an venereal disease around 1859/60, though I don't consider this information for trustworth.
It's claimed, that he had some affairs with women (one polish countess was rumoured) in that time. But he definitely didn't have syphilis. Syphilis is very serious illness with many symptoms and neither Franz  nor Elisabeth suffered them. If he would have been infected, he didn't cartainly reach so advanced age of 86. In some biographies  which I have read, was mentioned gonorrhoea. That would be more likely, although I still doubt about such rumours. I have never read anything about the symphtoms typical for those venereal diseases appeared on Elisabeth's or her husband's side. I admit, that the Emperor was not all the time of marriage absolutely faithful husband, he had few mistresses like A. Nahowsky or K. Schratt. But according my opinion, he was more careful and didn't choose disreputable women like for example Crown Prince Rudolph.

[Eric_Lowe]

I do not think Sisi had TB, I think the discovery of herself having a mild form of VD made her have aq mental collapse. Once she knew she could escape, her spirits improved dramatically. The Archduchesses who visited her was shocked at her enjoyment of leaving her family for a strange land. Some claimed she faked the illness, but I believe the damage was psycological.

[paola]

 I don't Elisabeth she had  really TB. Maybe an excuse to  be far away from her duties and the Imperial Court, after Franz Joseph's infidelities? I think there is a picture of her and her ladies taken in Madeira where she looks quite relaxed playing a musical instrument (bandolim?). Only her sister Helene (sent by Franz Joseph) could conviced her to return to Vienna.

[Linnie]

But from Madeira, she went to Corfou...

[aor]

But from Madeira, she went to Corfou...

Yes, but via Vienna for yet another 'dose' of Habsburg!

[CFH_Mexico]

The Hapsburg dose did not last long! Corfu was certainly more appealing to her than....

[aor]

I do not really 'love' Sissi, I think she should have never been put in a 'public' position and 'Franzl' should have listened to his mother when it came to choosing a wife and consort!
I admire Empress Elisabeth as a horse woman, am very interested in her life and her quirks, but too many mistakes and assumptions were made in regards to her abillities. She most certainly was intelligent, but she reminds me of a child with one too may toys, always looking for that toy she does not have, forgetting about what she does have. I believe there are mental instabillities that run through both the Wittlesbach and Habsburg families. No matter what, I firmly see her and her son as victims.

[Eric_Lowe]

I agree that Sisi wasn't cut out for public life. She was too private a and intelligent a person to love the constant show. She had a low opinion of the populace whom she thought of herself as a performing monkey to amuse the public (the frequent appearances and contant costume change did not help). If only she was allowed to keep her naturalness at least in private. The palace was a whispering gallery with Archduchess Sofie watching her every move...If you think about even Princess Diana complained about the lack of privacy, it was tenfold in the Austrian court, where Spanish rules of ediquette still in force.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Why do people love Sissi?...mmmm....
There are several reasons, I´m her fan because she's special and enigmatic. She had an unhappy life but she struggled for her happiness and peace. She was elegant and beautiful. Not a common lady.

[IrinaAlexandrovna]

It's interesting question....In my opinion one of the reasons is the movie with Romy
Other reason is that she attract the attention of the other people with her life.... And probably because of her love to Hungary.... Thats why they made a bridge.