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Princess Sophie of Bavaria (Sophie Friederike Dorothea Wilhelmine; 27 January 1805 – 28 May 1872) was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife, Caroline of Baden. The identical twin sister of Queen Maria Anna of Saxony , Sophie became Archduchess of Austria by marriage to Archduke Franz Karl of Austria .
Princess Sophie of Bavaria Facts 1. She Was a Spoiled Brat. Though she’d suffer a cold end, Sophie began life in the warm lap of luxury. In 1805, she came into the world as the daughter of King Maximilian I and Princess Caroline of Baden, who would soon become the rulers of Bavaria.
Sophie of Bavaria was the mother of Empress Elisabeth, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. She was a powerful and influential figure in the Austrian court, known as "the only man at court". She had a difficult relationship with her daughter-in-law Sisi, who was also known as "the Empress of the North". Learn more about her life, children, and legacy.
Princess Sophie of Hohenberg ( Sophie Marie Franziska Antonia Ignatia Alberta von Hohenberg; 24 July 1901 – 27 October 1990) was the only daughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, both of whom were assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914.
Learn about the life and role of Sophie, the wife of Franz Karl, the uncle of Franz Joseph I, the emperor of Austria. She was a powerful political figure behind the scenes, but also a controversial mother-in-law to Elisabeth, the wife of Franz Joseph.
On both her mother and her father's side, Sophie descended from King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, as her parents were first cousins. On her father's side, she descended from the last Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II. During the next year, Elisabeth delivered another daughter, Archduchess Gisela, a younger sister to Sophie.
Learn about the life and legacy of Sophie of Bavaria, the archduchess who married Archduke Franz Karl and secured the succession of her son Franz Joseph for the Habsburg dynasty. Explore her role in the corridors of power, her influence on the young emperor, and her personal and family history with interactive chapters and relevant links.