assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary occurred on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo. A young Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, shot the archduke and his wife, aiming to oppose Austro-Hungarian rule and promote Slavic independence. The killing triggered a series of diplomatic crises and alliances that escalated tensions among European powers. Within weeks, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, igniting World War I. This event demonstrated how political tensions and nationalism can lead to violent acts with far-reaching consequences.