Vienna women: Sisi
A Women that I was really interest in Vienna was the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, otherwise known as Sisi. She was born to a duke but had an informal uprising. "She marry her first cousin, Emperor Franz Jospeh I, at the age of 16"(wikipedia). Fun fact, Franz was suppose to marry Sis sister Helene but Franz refused that and said he wouldn't marry anyone unless it was Sisi. She didn't get to raise her kids as they were always taken away from her by her mother in law. In fact, her mother in law saw her unfit to to be an empress. In her life, she struggle with an eating disorder and many other illnesses (physically and mentally). She was killed on September 10, 1898 by Luigi Lucheni (wikipedia). To be honest, I think her life was depressing with how much she struggle in her personal life.
I think what makes her contribution to Vienna and Hungary so important was her love and dedication to both countries. She supported the morph of the Austria empire into the Austria-Hungary empire. She loved Hungary and at home there more than she felt in Vienna. She didn't contribute much to Vienna except her beauty and sad life. She had so much traumatic events happen to her in her life which make her so interesting to Vienna. She was view as an unfit ruler by her mother in law and had to rebelled to be seen. She life story proves to the world that there is more to her instead of looks and beauty.
I think Sisi was commemorated well. She has many thing named/dedicated to her and is portray in many art genres (like films and ballet). "When she died, her husband, Franz, founded the Order of Elisabeth for her"(wikipedia). The medal is given to women who show charitable work regardless of status. She has a Statue in the Volksgarten of Vienna. She also has a statue in Switzerland, lake Geneva. She has chapels and districts (in Hungary) named after her. The places she lived are also open to the public to walk through (wikipedia). To me, I don't think her memory will ever die. She seemed liked a well loved leader and was celebrated well by her country.
Audrey, your post about Empress Elisabeth was great! Sisi faced many obstacles, like her mother-in-law taking her kids and her struggles with an eating disorder. Despite this, she helped shape the Austria-Hungary empire and deeply loved Hungary. Her struggles are still relevant today, but there's more support now. Sisi is well commemorated with statues, memorials, and places named after her, showing her lasting impact and how much she was loved and respected
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