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Gisela AustrianImperial Princess and Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia
Date of Birth: 12.07.1856
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Princess Gisela of Austria
- Marriage and Family
- Philanthropic Endeavors
- World War I and Its Aftermath
- Later Years and Death
Princess Gisela of Austria
Birth and Early LifePrincess Gisela of Austria (1856-1932) was the second daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria. Her full title was Imperial Princess and Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia, and Princess of Bavaria. Gisela was named after Gisela of Hungary, the wife of Hungary's first king, Stephen I. Like her elder sister, Sophie Fredericka, and brother, Rudolph, she was raised by her grandmother, Archduchess Sophie.
Marriage and Family
On April 20, 1873, Gisela married Prince Leopold of Bavaria, her first cousin. The marriage was approved by Franz Joseph, as finding a suitable Catholic husband for Gisela proved difficult. The couple had four children: Elisabeth Marie, Augusta Maria, Georg, and Conrad. In honor of Gisela, a street in Munich was named Giselastrasse.
Philanthropic Endeavors
Throughout her life, Gisela actively engaged in philanthropy. She established several charitable organizations to support the needy, blind, and deaf. In Munich, she was affectionately known as the "Good Angel of Vienna."
World War I and Its Aftermath
During World War I, Gisela transformed her palace into a military hospital where she personally cared for wounded soldiers. After the revolution of 1918, the royal family fled Munich, but Gisela remained in the palace and participated in the National Assembly elections in 1919, where women over 20 were able to vote for the first time.
Later Years and Death
Gisela and Leopold celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1923. Leopold passed away in 1930, and Gisela survived him by two years. She was buried beside him in the Church of St. Michael in Munich.