| Quick Facts on the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand |
| Shot by Gavrillo Princip on 28th June 1914. |
| Franz was heir-presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne from 1889 to his death. |
| Gavrillo Princip was a member of the Black Hand an organisation of assassins. |
| Ferdinand famously quoted when being attacked with a grenade 'So you welcome your guests with bombs'? |
| His dying words were reputedly 'Don't die darling, live for our children'. |
| Austria-Hungary issued the July Ultimatum to Serbia. |
Archduke Franz Ferdinand - his assassination is historically seen as the act which started World War One.
Historically known as the pre-cursor to the First World War Gavrilo Princip infamously assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28th June 1914.
His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia and thus precipitated declarations of war betwen the Central Powers of Europe and the Allies.
In 1989 Franz became heir-presumptive after his cousin's sudden death and his father's renouncing of his succession rights
By age 14 Franz had already risen to rank of lieutenant in the army and continued promotions saw him reach major-general at 31
Ferdinand was a difficult man to analyse with some historians believing him to be strange and having a propensity for violence and recklessness. He was known to have heated meetings with emperor Franz Joseph and had what was described as an excessive interest in trophy hunting, yet he was also believed to be a mostly tolerant man where the empire's minorities were concerned.
He did undoubtedly have little sympathy with Hungarian nationals though and considered them to be a threat to the Habsburg dynasty particularly the Honvedseg (Hungarian branch of dual monarchy) which he distrusted deeply.
His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia and thus precipitated declarations of war betwen the Central Powers of Europe and the Allies.
In 1989 Franz became heir-presumptive after his cousin's sudden death and his father's renouncing of his succession rights
By age 14 Franz had already risen to rank of lieutenant in the army and continued promotions saw him reach major-general at 31
Ferdinand was a difficult man to analyse with some historians believing him to be strange and having a propensity for violence and recklessness. He was known to have heated meetings with emperor Franz Joseph and had what was described as an excessive interest in trophy hunting, yet he was also believed to be a mostly tolerant man where the empire's minorities were concerned.
He did undoubtedly have little sympathy with Hungarian nationals though and considered them to be a threat to the Habsburg dynasty particularly the Honvedseg (Hungarian branch of dual monarchy) which he distrusted deeply.
The Assassination -
On Sunday, 28 June 1914, at approximately 1:15 pm, Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Gavrilo Princip.
The couple had been attacked previously with a grenade which Ferdinand had managed to deflect far behind their car before it exploded. The couple insisted on seeing all those injured at the hospital and afterwards decided that they wanted to go to the palace, unfortunately their driver took a wrong turn down a side street and thet were spotted by Princip.
Princip approached the car and shot Ferdinand's wife Sophie in the abdomen before shooting Ferdinand in the neck. The two died frrom their injuries soon afterwards.
On Sunday, 28 June 1914, at approximately 1:15 pm, Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Gavrilo Princip.
The couple had been attacked previously with a grenade which Ferdinand had managed to deflect far behind their car before it exploded. The couple insisted on seeing all those injured at the hospital and afterwards decided that they wanted to go to the palace, unfortunately their driver took a wrong turn down a side street and thet were spotted by Princip.
Princip approached the car and shot Ferdinand's wife Sophie in the abdomen before shooting Ferdinand in the neck. The two died frrom their injuries soon afterwards.
The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip - the man behind the nfamous assassination. Was born in 1894 in Objaj, Bosnia Herzogovina. Most historians believe Princip to have been a member of the Union of Death a smaller break away group of Young Bosnia.