Elisabeth von Wittelsbach was German born princess from Bavaria. She became wife of Austrian emperor Franz Josef at age of 16 and died from hand of anarchist at age of 60 by tragic accident... Marriage between Franz Josef and Elisabeth was very happy from beginning, yet became troublesome, to say the least, after birth of their only son, as she was literally pushed away from raising him... This was also coupled by Elisabeth's increasingly erratic behavior (her family, the Wittelsbachs, had a history of mental instability). Nickname “Sissi” was given to her by her relatives and friends. She was once considered the most beautiful woman in the world , or ,undoubtfully, her times and became an icon of 20th century, just like princess Diana. Sissi loved horses and was no doubt the best horsewoman of her time. Her hair took three hours a day and if her hairdresser was sick, she would not come out of her chambers. She was literally a slave to her beauty and had a twenty-inch waist. Sissi became a legend due astonishing beauty, influential sense of fashion, intriguing and, sometimes, scandalous life, her feverish passion for sports, particularly riding, an mysterious image surrounded by oriole of romantic tales and love from countrymen, and a series of reputed lovers :-)... Up to these days many Austrians almost worship her and tell thousands of tales about her life. There is an American made movie “Sissi Forever”, if my memory serves me right.