16 Facts About Princess Sophie of Bavaria

Princess Sophie of Bavaria 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.

The fourth child of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Caroline of Baden, Princess Sophie Friederike Dorothea Wilhelmine was born on 27 January 1805 in Nymphenburg Palace, Munich.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria was said to be her father's favorite daughter although she was more attached to her mother, whom she loved dearly.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria adored her twin sister Maria Anna and was very close to all her sisters.

Unlike her husband, Princess Sophie of Bavaria was attached to all of her children, especially Franz Joseph, as well as Ferdinand Maximilian, who was her favorite son.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria had a reputation for being strong-willed and authoritarian by nature but she was known as a familiar and sociable person devoted to her family and the Habsburg empire she married into.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria enjoyed court life, dance, art and literature as well as horse riding.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria's ambition to place her oldest son on the Austrian throne was a constant theme in Austrian politics.

Historically, Princess Sophie of Bavaria is remembered for her extremely adversarial relationship with Franz Joseph's wife Elisabeth "Sisi", who was her niece.

Elisabeth hated Princess Sophie of Bavaria for being demanding and the upbringing of Elisabeth's children, but there is no evidence that the Archduchess had the same feelings, as Elisabeth is usually described quite pleasantly in Princess Sophie of Bavaria's diary and letters.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria kept a detailed diary most of her life, which reveals much about Austrian court life.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria was deeply affected in 1867 by the execution in Mexico of her second son Maximilian.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria never recovered from that shock, and withdrew from public life.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria was noted for her close relationship with her nephew the Duke of Reichstadt, the former Napoleon II.

Princess Sophie of Bavaria is said to have turned into the hard, ambitious woman described in fiction after he died.