19th Cent. Archduchess Sophie of Austria

Sophie Friederike Dorothea Maria Josepha of Austria was born on 5 March 1855, in Wien, Austria. She was the daughter of Elisabeth, Empress Consort of Austria (24 December 1837 - 10 September 1898) and Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria (18 August 1830 - 21 November 1916). Her maternal grandparents were Marie Ludovika Wilhelmine, Princess of Bavaria (30 August 1808 - 25 January 1892) and Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria (4 December 1808 - 15 November 1888). Her paternal grandparents were Princess Sophie of Bavaria (27 January 1805 - 28 May 1872) and Archduke Franz Karl Joseph of Austria (17 December 1802 - 8 March 1878). Sophie's parents were married on 24 April 1854, at the St. Augustine's Church, in Wien. Her siblings were: Gisela Louise Marie (15 July 1856 - 27 July 1932), Rudolf Francis Charles Joseph (21 August 1858 - 30 January 1889) and Marie Valerie Mathilde Amalie (22 April 1868 - 6 September 1924). Sophie and her younger sister, Gisela were installed in a nursery near their grandmother Sophie's apartments. In 1857, the children accompanied Elisabeth and Franz Josef I on a state visit to Hungary. During this trip, both girls fell ill. Gisela recovered, but Sophie became steadily weaker. Sophie of Austria died on 29 May 1857, in Budapest.