Sophie Esterházy-Liechtenstein

Countess Esterhazy, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber (1833) after a painting by Joh. Ender

Sophie Mária Josepha Princess von und zu Liechtenstein, Countess Esterházy von Galántha , known as "Countess Esterházy", (born  September 5, 1798 in Vienna ; †  June 17, 1869 ibid) was an Austrian high court master and lady-in-waiting to the Austrian Empress Elisabeth of Austria Hungary .

Life

Sophie Mária Josepha Princess von und zu Liechtenstein came from the House of Liechtenstein . She was the second daughter and the third child of the Austrian field marshal Johann Joseph Prince of Liechtenstein , 10th Prince von und zu Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf and his wife Josefa Sophie Landgravine zu Fürstenberg-Weitra .

In 1817 she married Count Vinzenz Esterházy Baron zu Galántha (1787–1835). Her husband was an Austro-Hungarian chamberlain and major general . The marriage was childless.

Esterházy-Liechtenstein was lady-in-waiting and a close confidante of the Austrian Archduchess Sophie , mother of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria . Archduchess Sophie also selected her for the office of chief courtiers, the so-called “First Society Lady”, to Empress Elisabeth.

She first met young Sisi in August 1853 when she congratulated her on her engagement to Emperor Franz Joseph I in Bad Ischl . In April 1854 she became Elisabeth's chief steward. She was almost 56 years old when she received the office of chief steward and was considered a "strict, ceremonial woman"; she was also known for her ultra-conservative attitude. She de facto took over the function of governess for Empress Elisabeth . From the first moment Elisabeth felt a deep dislike for Countess Esterházy-Liechtenstein; she felt she was a “watchdog”. Esterházy-Liechtenstein, however, was also criticized by individual members of the court for her governess attitude towards Elisabeth; also that she tried to initiate Elisabeth into the family gossip of the high aristocracy, although Elisabeth showed no real interest in it, was noted negatively. Esterházy-Liechtenstein, however, saw this as one of their tasks. On behalf of Archduchess Sophie, she was also present on the honeymoon of Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth at Laxenburg Castle in April and May 1854 in order to be able to report to Archduchess Sophie any violations of the empress's etiquette .

In June 1854 she accompanied the imperial couple on their first trip abroad to Bohemia and Moravia . In the winter of 1860 she was informed by Empress Elisabeth that she would not accompany her on her trip to Madeira and that she would be represented by another lady-in-waiting, the young Mathilde zu Windisch-Grätz. During Elisabeth's stay in Madeira, in accordance with Archduchess Sophie's instructions, she took on the upbringing of Elisabeth's two children, Archduchess Gisela and, together with Baroness Karoline Walden, also that of Crown Prince Rudolf . In November 1861 - Archduchess Sophie was able to prevail this time - she traveled together with Emperor Franz Joseph I and their two children Gisela and Rudolf to see Elisabeth, who had been in Venice since the end of October 1861 ; from there she reported in detail to Archduchess Sophie about Elisabeth and her children. During her stay in Venice there were several disputes between her and the Empress over the Countess' educational methods. Esterházy-Liechtenstein insisted that the educational principles ordered by Archduchess Sophie should be strictly observed. Elisabeth then demanded that the countess be dismissed. At the beginning of 1862, probably during January 1862, Esterházy-Liechtenstein was dismissed from Emperor Franz Joseph I as chief stewardess. Her successor was Pauline von Königsegg , Countess Bellegarde. Emperor Franz Joseph I said goodbye to her personally, thanked her for her services and presented her with a valuable bracelet with his portrait as a token of his gratitude . Esterházy-Liechtenstein then returned from Venice to Vienna.

She died in Vienna in June 1869 and was buried in the Liechtenstein family crypt in Wranau . The imperial couple was also present at their funeral in Wranau.

reception

In the literature and in film , but also in the musical , Countess Esterházy was shown several times; in particular her relationship with Empress Elisabeth was discussed.

In the two Sissi films Sissi - Die Junge Kaiserin (1956) and Sissi - Fateful Years of an Empress (1957) she was played by the Austrian theater actress Helene Lauterböck . Her role in the Sissi films is designed as a classic supporting role and is largely in line with history. She is portrayed as a strictly moral court master who pays attention to the observance of the court ceremonial.

In the two-part historical film Sisi (2009) by director Xaver Schwarzenberger , her role was significantly upgraded. The role was played by Franziska Stavjanik . Her portrayal received positive reviews. Countess Esterházy is here initially the confidante of Archduchess Sophie, on whose behalf she is to introduce Elisabeth to the court ceremony. At the same time, she is to give the Archduchess a detailed report of every step Elisabeth has taken. In the course of the action, however, the creation of a relationship of trust between the two women is described, which is not historically guaranteed. Countess Esterházy becomes a confidante and friend of the empress. She opens her doors at court and supports Elisabeth's independence plans for Hungary . Due to the liberal attitude of Empress Elisabeth and her partial use of Hungarian as the language at court, the film "awakens the rebellious spirit of [Countess] Esterházy", as Stavjanik described her role in an interview. In a conversation with Archduchess Sophie, Countess Esterházy turns against them and supports Empress Elisabeth in her wish to take her two young daughters Gisela and Sophie with her on the planned trip to Hungary. She is then removed from office by Archduchess Sophie; However, Elisabeth stands up for her. In her last scene, she says goodbye to Empress Elisabeth, regrets her job as an informant and says that she was not a good friend of the Empress.

In the musical Elisabeth she got a supporting role as Countess Esterházy. In the duet with Archduchess Sophie in Act 1, Scene 8 and her other short scenes, the pressure of the court becomes visible.

Literature (selection)

• Egon Caesar Conte Corti : Elisabeth, "the strange woman". Based on the empress's written estate, her daughter's diaries and other unpublished diaries and documents . Weltbild Verlag, Augsburg 2003, ISBN 3-8289-0548-X (former title: Sissi - luck and tragedy of a great empress ).
• Brigitte Hamann : Elisabeth - Empress against her will . Piper, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-492-24552-8 .
• Alan Palmer: Franz Joseph I. Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary . List, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-471-78431-4 .

Web links

• Princess Sophie Mária von und zu Liechtenstein (1798 - 1869) - short biography in EsterhazyWiki

Individual evidence

1. ^ "Kaiserin Von Oesterreich" (Empress of Austria) Convincing for the 21st century audience review Geemovie.com; Retrieved December 12, 2013
2. ↑ “Sisis Vertraute” will soon open its own fashion store  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Interview with Franziska Stavjanik in: The whole week ; Edition 50/2009  
3. ↑ The torment with the costume Interview with Franziska Stavjanik in: Westfälische Nachrichten of December 15, 2009
4. ↑ ELISABETH - The Musical / SCENES sequence of scenes; La Belle Musical; Retrieved December 12, 2013
5. ^ The story of the musical ELISABETH , accessed on December 12, 2013.