9. Sisi Never Found Happiness in Austria
Sisi was never suited for the rigid lifestyle imposed upon her by the Hapsburg court in Vienna. She much preferred the carefree youth that she had enjoyed with her family in Bavaria before her marriage to Franz Josef. She suffered from chronic depression that may have been exacerbated by other health problems, including a possible venereal disease transmitted to her by her philandering husband. Married as a teenager and brought into the role of the empress, she was woefully unprepared for life as a reigning royal. She spent much of her time away from Austria, frequently either in Bavaria with her family or in Hungary.
Many believe that she became so obsessed with her weight and appearance because they were the only things that she could control. She became so obsessive about her hair that her personal hair stylist accompanied her nearly everywhere she went. Whenever any hairs fell out while brushing her hair, the stylist would have to present the fallen hairs to the empress in a silver bowl and face a reprimand. Sisi’s eating habits were particularly troubling. Today, she might be diagnosed with both anorexia, for her intense fasts aimed at controlling her weight, as well as a binge-eating disorder.