Sissi

Empress Elisabeth of Austria, nick-named Sisi or Sissi, was born into a royal family in Bavaria, and married the Emperor of Austria at age sixteen.

She rebelled against the strict protocols at the Austrian imperial court, and was especially at odds with her conservative mother-in-law. Sisi traveled widely, spoke several languages, and became a symbol for charm and beauty due to her rigorous exercise and beauty routine. She even helped to bring about the dual Austrian-Hungarian monarchy thanks to the deep kinship she developed with Hungary.

Despite her beauty and spirit, she suffered many tragedies. One of her daughters died in infancy. She struggled with depression. Her only son and heir Rudolph was found dead with his mistress, and is suspected to have murdered her and then killed himself.

Sisi was assassinated by an Italian anarchist in Switzerland at age sixty.