Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the early 20th century. His assassination on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo was a pivotal event that triggered World War I. Often linked to rising nationalism in Eastern Europe, his murder by a Serbian nationalist escalated tensions between major powers. Austria-Hungary’s subsequent declaration of war on Serbia drew in alliances across Europe, leading to a widespread conflict that reshaped borders and societies. His death symbolized the complex entanglements of political interests, national identities, and the consequences of militarism at the time.