The Empress on Netflix is a period drama that portrays the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known for her beauty, eccentricity, and turbulent relationship with the royal court. The show mixes historical facts with fictional elements, creating a compelling narrative that keeps viewers hooked.
However, while the show is rooted in real events, there are moments where the creators take creative liberties to enhance the drama. This article explores the historical accuracy of The Empress and highlights the major differences between fact and fiction.
Historical accuracy in the show
One of the key historical moments in The Empress is the relationship between Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph I. The show accurately portrays how long it took for them to get married after their engagement.
In reality, Franz and Elisabeth were engaged in 1853, and their marriage took place the following year, which is shown correctly in the series. This part of the timeline remains faithful to history.
In the series, Elisabeth and Franz fall in love at first sight. However, this is a significant deviation from historical accounts. Historical records suggest that Elisabeth did not immediately take a liking to Franz.
She grew to love him over time as they spent more time together. The show simplifies this to make their love story more romantic and instant, which enhances the drama but strays from the true events.
Fictional characters in The Empress
One of the most interesting characters in The Empress is Countess Leontine Apafi, who plays a role in the rebellion against the monarchy. However, there is no historical record of such a character in Elisabeth’s court.
Countess Apafi, as portrayed in the show, is a fictional creation. She does not exist in history, and her role in the rebellion is purely fabricated to add intrigue and tension to the plot.
Her character is important for two reasons: she brings attention to the rebellion and its impact on the Austrian people, and she serves as Elisabeth’s confidant, offering support during difficult moments. Despite not being based on a real person, Countess Apafi’s storyline serves a narrative purpose and enriches the drama of the show.
Maximilian and Princess Charlotte’s love story
In The Empress, Maximilian meets Princess Charlotte of Belgium while traveling by train to Paris. The two instantly fall in love and get engaged shortly after. However, historical accounts tell a different story. Maximilian and Princess Charlotte met in Brussels, not on a train. They first met each other at a court ball, not during a train ride, which makes the show’s version of their meeting more dramatic but less accurate.
The show portrays a whirlwind romance, with Maximilian and Charlotte quickly getting engaged and married. While the engagement happened relatively soon, historical accounts suggest that their courtship was not as fast-paced.
Maximilian and Charlotte's relationship developed more gradually, and their marriage was influenced by various political factors, including Maximilian’s desire to secure support for his brother, Emperor Franz Joseph.
In The Empress, Princess Charlotte is shown choosing Maximilian over King Pedro V of Portugal. The show suggests that she made this decision because she preferred Maximilian.
However, historical records tell a different story. When Charlotte met Maximilian, she had already decided not to marry King Pedro V. She felt that she wouldn’t fit in at the Portuguese court, and her decision had more to do with this than with any preference for Maximilian.
The series suggests that Maximilian immediately fell in love with Charlotte when he first saw her. However, this is not how history remembers their relationship. Maximilian was initially unsure about Charlotte, even expressing concerns about her intelligence.
It was only over time that he came to admire and love her. This more nuanced portrayal of their relationship is left out in favor of a more dramatic, instant love story in the show.
Other facts vs fiction
In The Empress, Napoleon III is shown helping General Cavour in the Second Italian War of Independence, which eventually leads to Austria’s defeat. The show simplifies Napoleon’s motivations, focusing on his alliance with Cavour.
However, historical accounts reveal that Napoleon's decision to support Cavour was not just about helping Italy. Napoleon also had his eyes on expanding his influence in Europe, and defeating Austria was part of his broader political strategy.
Mimi, Elisabeth’s younger sister, is portrayed as wanting to marry for love, much like her older sister. The show accurately depicts her being shipped off to Sicily to marry Francis II, but it leaves out some key details.
Before her departure, Mimi was subjected to various treatments in an attempt to start her period so that she could marry. This part of her story is not fully explored in the show, though it was an important aspect of her real-life journey.
In The Empress, Alexander von Bach quits his job as Minister of the Interior because of his affair with Countess Apafi. However, historical accounts suggest that Bach’s departure was due to the disastrous effects of the Second Italian War on Austria, not personal relationships. The show’s dramatic narrative adds a fictional layer to his resignation to create tension and drama.
The show does a great job of depicting the tension between Archduchess Sophie and Elisabeth. Sophie’s attempt to control Elisabeth and her free-spirited nature is portrayed accurately.
Trending
However, the show simplifies some aspects of their relationship, such as when Sophie takes Elisabeth’s first child away from her. Historical records suggest that this happened shortly after the birth, not before, as shown in the series.
While the show gets some key historical details right, it also takes liberties with certain aspects to enhance the drama and appeal of the story. By mixing history with fiction, the show captures the essence of Empress Elisabeth's life while providing a more entertaining and dramatic retelling of events.
Reply
