Countess Irma Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály


Countess Irma Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály was the last lady-in-waiting of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The countess was the sole companion traveling with the empress when she was assassinated.

Life and family

The Hungarian countess Irma was born as the daughter of Count Viktor :hu:Sztáray család|Stáray de Sztára et Nagymihály and Countess Mária :hu:Török család |Török de Szendrõ. She never got married, as she dedicated her whole life to the Empress and the court. The Countess 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.