Katharina Schratt
Encyclopedia
Katharina Schratt was an Austrian actress who became "the uncrowned Empress of Austria" as the mistress and confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph
.
Katharina Schratt was the only daughter of an office supplies dealer; she had two brothers. Even at the age of 6, she took an interest in the theatre. Her parents' efforts to discourage this only increased her ambition. At 18, she appeared with the Hoftheater in Berlin
, achieving considerable success in a short time.
However, Schratt left Germany after only a few months, following the call of the Viennese to join their city's theater. Schratt married Hungarian aristocrat Nikolaus Kiss de Ittebe in 1879, and gave birth to a son, Anton, in 1880. She toured overseas, and appeared in New York
after which she returned permanently to Vienna's Hofburgtheater
, She was one of Austria's most popular actresses until she retired in 1900.
Schratt's performance at the 1885 Industrial Exhibition in Vienna attracted the attention of Franz Joseph, and she was invited to perform for visiting Czar Alexander III of Russia
. She soon became Franz Joseph's intimate companion and mistress. It is said that Franz Joseph's wife Empress Elisabeth
actually promoted the relationship between the actress and the Emperor. After Elisabeth's murder
in 1898, their relationship continued, with one interruption (1900/01, due to a difference in opinions), until his death in November 1916. Schratt was rewarded with a generous lifestyle including a mansion on Vienna's Gloriettegasse, near the Schönbrunn Palace
, and a three-story palace on the Kärntner Ring, just across from the Vienna State Opera
.
After the death of Franz Joseph, she lived completely withdrawn in her palace on the Kärntner Ring. She turned down large financial offers for her memoirs. In later years, Schratt became deeply religious. After her death in 1940 at the age of 86, she was buried in the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
.
Katharina Schratt was the only daughter of an office supplies dealer; she had two brothers. Even at the age of 6, she took an interest in the theatre. Her parents' efforts to discourage this only increased her ambition. At 18, she appeared with the Hoftheater in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, achieving considerable success in a short time.
However, Schratt left Germany after only a few months, following the call of the Viennese to join their city's theater. Schratt married Hungarian aristocrat Nikolaus Kiss de Ittebe in 1879, and gave birth to a son, Anton, in 1880. She toured overseas, and appeared in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
after which she returned permanently to Vienna's Hofburgtheater
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater , originally known as K.K. Theater an der Burg, then until 1918 as the K.K. Hofburgtheater, is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and one of the most important German language theatres in the world.The Burgtheater was created in 1741 and has become known as "die Burg" by the...
, She was one of Austria's most popular actresses until she retired in 1900.
Schratt's performance at the 1885 Industrial Exhibition in Vienna attracted the attention of Franz Joseph, and she was invited to perform for visiting Czar Alexander III of Russia
Alexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
. She soon became Franz Joseph's intimate companion and mistress. It is said that Franz Joseph's wife Empress Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
actually promoted the relationship between the actress and the Emperor. After Elisabeth's murder
Luigi Lucheni
Luigi Lucheni was an Italian anarchist who assassinated the Austrian Empress, Elisabeth of Bavaria , in 1898...
in 1898, their relationship continued, with one interruption (1900/01, due to a difference in opinions), until his death in November 1916. Schratt was rewarded with a generous lifestyle including a mansion on Vienna's Gloriettegasse, near the Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
, and a three-story palace on the Kärntner Ring, just across from the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
.
After the death of Franz Joseph, she lived completely withdrawn in her palace on the Kärntner Ring. She turned down large financial offers for her memoirs. In later years, Schratt became deeply religious. After her death in 1940 at the age of 86, she was buried in the Hietzing Cemetery in Vienna.