Mayerling incident Empress Elisabeth of Austria

photograph of imperial hunting lodge @ mayerling, in crown prince rudolf committed suicide in 1889

in 1889 elisabeth s life shattered death of son rudolf, found dead young lover baroness mary vetsera, in suspected murder-suicide on rudolf s part. scandal known mayerling incident after name of rudolf s hunting lodge in lower austria, found.

elisabeth never recovered tragedy, sinking further melancholy. within few years, had lost father (in 1888), son (1889), sister (1890) , mother (1892). after rudolf s death thought have dressed in black rest of life, although light blue , cream gown discovered hofburg s sisi museum dates time. compound losses, count gyula andrássy died year later, on 18 february 1890. last , friend dead, lamented. marie valerie declared, ...she clung him true , steadfast friendship did perhaps, no other person. whether personal relationship intimate 1 or not, feelings him ones felt country, , knew wholeheartedly reciprocated magyars.

the mayerling scandal increased public interest in elisabeth, , continued icon , sensation in own right wherever went. wore long black gowns buttoned @ bottom, , carried white parasol made of leather in addition concealing fan hide face curious.

elisabeth spent little time in vienna husband. correspondence increased during last years, however, , relationship became warm friendship. on imperial steamer, miramar, empress elisabeth travelled through mediterranean. favourite places cap martin on french riviera, , sanremo on ligurian riviera, tourism had started in second half of nineteenth century; lake geneva in switzerland; bad ischl in austria, imperial couple spend summer; , corfu. empress visited countries not visited european royals @ time: morocco, algeria, malta, turkey, , egypt. endless travels became means of escape empress life , misery.