The Netflix period drama The Empress gives the prestige TV treatment to one of Europe's most glamorous monarchs: Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The German-language series, which returned for its second season on November 22, 2024, is a must-watch show for fans of Bridgerton and The Crown, as well as history buffs discovering a new royal to obsess over. It follows the rebellious empress's life following her whirlwind courtship with Emperor Franz Joseph I, as she struggles to adapt to the rigid court lifestyle and her demanding new role.
After watching the International Emmy-winning series, some fans may wonder whether Elisabeth's real life was as gilded and tragic as depicted in the fictionalized show. Below, we separate fact from fiction in the life of The Empress's Elisabeth of Austria.
