Irma Sztáray

Countess Irma Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály (10 July 1863 – 3 September 1940) was a Hungarian courtier and memoirist.[1] She was the last lady-in-waiting of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and the sole companion traveling with the empress when she was assassinated.

Irma Sztáray
Countess Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály
BornIrma Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály
(1863-07-10)10 July 1863
Sztára, Kingdom of Hungary (today Staré, Slovakia)
Died3 September 1940(1940-09-03) (aged 77)
Szobránc, Kingdom of Hungary (today Sobrance, Slovakia)
FatherCount Viktor Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály
MotherCountess Mária Török de Szendrő

Early life

The Hungarian countess Irma was born as the daughter of Count Viktor Stáray de Sztára et Nagymihály (hu) (1823–1879) and Countess Mária Török de Szendrõ (hu) (1835–1916).

Court lady

Sztáray got the position of lady in waiting at the Imperial court of Austria. She never married, as she dedicated her whole life to the Empress and the court. She accompanied Elisabeth during her last four years, from 1894 until 1898, on her journeys to Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Algeria and Greece. Her memoirs Aus den letzten Jahren der Kaiserin Elisabeth, which she wrote many years after Empress Elisabeth's death, were published in German and are a valuable source which gives detailed insights into Sisi's final years.

For her services, Irma Sztáray received a medal of honour from Emperor Franz Joseph I right after Elisabeth's assassination.[2]

The 2023 German-Austrian-Swiss film Sisi & I tells the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria from the point of view of Sztáray, who was portrayed by German actress Sandra Hüller.[3]

References
  1. Beatrix Meyer: Kaiserin Elisabeth und ihr Ungarn, Allitera, München 2019, ISBN 978-3962331306
  2. Haderer, Stefan 2008, Empress Elisabeth's Final Odyssey, European Royal History Journal, Issue 64, Vol. 11.4, August 2008, Eurohistory, Arturo Beéche, East Richmond Heights, CA - U.S.A.
  3. Gottlieb, Susanne (20 February 2023). "Review: Sisi & I". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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