The True Story Behind Netflix's 'The Empress', Explained

The Empress has become a breakout hit across two seasons and is confirmed to return for a third and final season in late 2026. The Netflix drama revisits the life of Elisabeth of Wittelsbach, a Bavarian princess who travels to Austria for her sister’s wedding and unexpectedly becomes the Empress of Austria-Hungary.

The series blends historical fact with fiction. Elisabeth’s free-spirited nature and charm—traits long associated with her and famously portrayed in the Sissi films—are faithfully depicted, but key moments are romanticized. The show exaggerates the timing and drama of her meeting with Franz Joseph; in reality they had met earlier and their engagement was arranged between their mothers, and Helene was married off rather than remaining at Elisabeth’s side.

Much of Elisabeth’s life at court is shown truthfully. She faced rigid etiquette enforced by Archduchess Sophie and was expected chiefly to produce a male heir. Her first two children were daughters; the eldest, Sophie, died at age two in 1857 during a trip to Hungary.

Austria-Hungary, Bavaria

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