English

Barbara Káli-Rozmis – Author & Researcher of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi)

Barbara Káli-Rozmis is an internationally recognized researcher of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi), known for uncovering authentic and previously inaccessible historical sources.

Her work has been supported by the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family, who opened their private archives to her research.

Her award-winning book and its sequel offer a unique, human perspective on one of Europe’s most fascinating royal figures and her family.

✨The Untold Story Behind One of Europe’s Most Fascinating Women✨

For more than 20 years, Barbara Káli-Rozmis has been dedicated to uncovering the real story of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary — known to the world as Sisi.

Not the myth.
Not the legend.
But the woman behind it.

Barbara reveals the hidden, deeply human, complex, often misunderstood story of Elisabeth and her family through exclusive research and royal archives.

Elisabeth by Emil Rabending, March, 1866. Wien Museum, 104291/2

✨More Than History — A Living Story✨

Barbara’s mission is not only to document the past, but to reshape how we understand it.

Through her work, Sisi is no longer a distant historical icon, but a relatable, modern woman navigating identity, freedom, pressure, and public life — themes that remain strikingly relevant today.

✨Follow the Journey✨

Discover the hidden world behind the legend of Sisi.
Follow Barbara’s work to access new research, stories, and insights as they unfold.

The story of Empress Elisabeth is far from complete.

This is where it continues.

✨Two non-fiction books and the third in process✨

Barbara Káli-Rozmis is the author of two acclaimed books based on extensive research and rare primary sources. (Read more about the books below.)
Together, these works establish a distinctive voice that combines historical depth with compelling narrative.
She is currently working on her third volume, continuing this remarkable and evolving project.

Explore: My published works

✨Lectures & Presentations✨

Barbara Káli-Rozmis delivers engaging and thought-provoking lectures on the life of Empress Elisabeth, combining rigorous historical research with compelling storytelling.

Her presentations go beyond the well-known narratives, revealing lesser-known details, authentic sources, and the complex human story behind the legend. Her lectures challenge popular narratives and bring audiences closer to the human reality behind the myth.

Her lectures challenge popular interpretations and show that reality is often more complex—and more fascinating—than fiction.

Available for international events, lectures, and collaborations.

Explore: Some of the Core Themes & Lecture Topics

Contact: Barbara Káli-Rozmis – Email: barbara.kali.rozmis@tumag.hu

“The Book of the Year Award 2022” in the historical non-fiction category

„The Book of the Year 2022” Award. Photo by Márk Széchenyi, 2023

1. Introduction
Discover my background and research journey

2. Media Coverage
See media features and interviews

3. References & Presentations
Explore my references

3. Books
Discover my published works
Discover my upcoming third book

4. Step into the world of Elisabeth
Read some of my articles in English
Watch my videos with subtitles

5. Contacts
Get in touch

✨About the books – the third one is coming in the spring of 2027✨

2021 Book (in Hugarian):

Queen Elisabeth and the Hungarians – Friendship or Love?

Author: Barbara Káli-Rozmis

Publisher: Helikon Kiadó, October 2021 (Language: Hungarian)

Barbara Káli-Rozmis’s work offers a rare blend of rigorous historical research and immersive storytelling.

Drawing on diaries, letters, and previously unexplored primary sources, she reconstructs Elisabeth’s world with exceptional depth — bringing readers closer not only to historical events, but to the people behind them. The narrative unfolds with the intensity of a novel, while remaining firmly grounded in documented reality.

Endorsed by Archduke Michael von Habsburg-Lothringen (great-great-grandson of Empress and Queen Elisabeth), the book stands out for its authenticity, narrative power, and strong international potential.

2023 Book (in Hungarian):

Passion in the Captivity of Rank – Sisi in the Circle of Friends and Family

Author: Barbara Káli-Rozmis

Publisher: Helikon Kiadó, October 2023 (Language: Hungarian)

In an age of simplified and sensationalized history, Barbara Káli-Rozmis offers something rare: truth.

Based on personal letters, poems, and contemporary accounts, her second volume reveals a complex, deeply human figure shaped by inner conflict and emotional intensity. This is not a myth, but a nuanced and compelling portrait—often more powerful than fiction.

Endorsed by Count János Seremetyeff-Papp, the work stands out for its psychological depth, authenticity, and strong appeal to international audiences.

✨The Story Behind the Brooch — A royal legacy✨

“The brooch I am wearing in the first photo above is more than a piece of jewellery — it carries a legacy.

Originally worn by Empress and Queen Elisabeth on 24 December 1888 at the engagement of her youngest daughter, Archduchess Marie Valerie, it was later passed down through generations. Valerie wore it again in 1912 at the engagement of her daughter, Ella (Elisabeth Franziska), who also chose this piece for her official engagement portraits (see the photo).

Over time, the brooch became a silent witness to intimate family moments — reappearing on special occasions, including Valerie’s 25th wedding anniversary.

The piece seen in the photos is an authentic reconstruction, created especially for me, inspired by the original — later sold at auction at the Dorotheum in Vienna in 2024.

The original brooch was sold at auction at the Dorotheum Auction House in Vienna in 2024 (you can see that HERE).”

Barbara Káli-Rozmis

✨Support My Research✨

Behind every discovery are years of research, rare sources, and countless untold stories waiting to be revealed.

If you would like to be part of this journey and help bring these stories to a wider, international audience, you can support my work:

👉 Join my Patreon for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes insights (I am going to add English posts soon):
EXCLUSIVE POSTS ABOUT EMPRESS ELISABETH OF AUSTRIA (SISI)

👉 Or support directly via PayPal:
azigazisisi@gmail.com
(for payments only)

Your support makes it possible to continue this research and to prepare future English editions for international readers.

For collaborations or larger contributions, please feel free to contact me:
barbara.kali.rozmis@tumag.hu

✨Discover my background and research journey

See media features and interviews

Explore my references