Long Live the Queens: Mighty, Magnificent and Bloody Marvellous Monarchs History’s Forgotten. Emma Marriott

weight. Showing clear signs of an eating disorder, she also suffered from sleeplessness, fits of coughing and various other physical complaints, which prompted doctors to advise that she travel to foreign climes for her health. She seized the opportunity to get away from the ‘prison fortress’ of court, and travelled to, amongst other places, Madeira, Corfu, and her family in Bavaria, and seemed often to recover when she was away from Vienna.

Early on in her reign, Sisi had developed a keen interest in Hungary, mastering its language and sympathising with rebels there, which prompted her to speak at court on behalf of their cause. She also formed a close alliance and friendship (and some rumoured romance) with the Hungarian statesman Count Gyula Andrássy. In 1866, after Austria had been defeated by the Prussians, Elisabeth and her children sought refuge in Budapest. Soon after, and largely facilitated by Sisi’s lobbying at court, Andrássy negotiated terms with Franz Joseph that created the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, creating a dual monarchy in which Hungary and Austria would be equal partners. In June 1867, Franz and Elisabeth were crowned monarchs of Hungary and given the castle of Godollo outside Budapest. Andrássy became Prime Minister and Elisabeth remained at Godollo, giving birth to her final child, Maria Valerie, there in 1868.

      In her new role as Queen, Elisabeth was able to spend even more time away from Vienna in Hungary, where she continued to raise Maria Valerie. She and the Emperor were increasingly living separate lives and by 1885 it was an open secret that Franz Joseph was conducting an affair with an actress from a Vienna theatre. Elisabeth herself was also aware of and accepted the situation.