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Franz Ferdinand was an Austro-Hungarian politician and aristocrat who served as Archduke of Austria from 1896 until his assassination in 1914. His death sparked the start of World War I, making him one of the most important figures in modern European history.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1863</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Franz Ferdinand is Born</div><div class='timeline-text'>On December 18, 1863, Franz Ferdinand was born in Graz, Austria.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1893</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Marries Countess Sophie Chotek</div><div class='timeline-text'>Franz Ferdinand marries Countess Sophie Chotek in a private ceremony in Reichstadt.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1909</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Appointed Inspector General of the Army</div><div class='timeline-text'>Franz Ferdinand is appointed Inspector General of the Austro-Hungarian Army.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1913</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>The Archduke Visits Sarajevo</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Archduke and his wife visit Sarajevo in support of the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>June 28, 1914</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Assassination of Franz Ferdinand</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Archduke and his wife are assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist while visiting Sarajevo.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>July 28, 1914</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Start of World War I</div><div class='timeline-text'>Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, marking the official start of World War I.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>May 15, 1919</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Death of Franz Ferdinand Mourned</div><div class='timeline-text'>The death of Franz Ferdinand is mourned by millions around the world.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>He Unified Austria</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Franz Ferdinand was a politician who unified Austria and is credited with creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He also sought to strengthen the economy of the region by introducing new reforms, including the adoption of the gold standard and increased trade between nations.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>He Took Steps Toward Equality</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Franz Ferdinand took steps to create an atmosphere of equality and justice in Austria. He abolished nobility titles, making everyone equal under the law, and introduced reforms to make it easier for people to become citizens. This helped create a more inclusive society.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>He Was Progressive</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Franz Ferdinand was a progressive ruler who sought to improve the lives of his subjects. He built infrastructure, improved healthcare, and supported education reform. His rule also saw advances in human rights and labor laws that had not been seen before in Austria.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>First Heir of Austro-Hungarian Empire</h3><p class='facts-text'>Franz Ferdinand was the first heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, having been appointed the heir presumptive in 1896.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army</h3><p class='facts-text'>Franz Ferdinand served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant general.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Assassinated in Sarajevo</h3><p class='facts-text'>Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28th, 1914 by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian nationalist organization known as the Black Hand.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Triggered World War I</h3><p class='facts-text'>The assassination of Franz Ferdinand is widely considered to have triggered the events which led to World War I.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Buried in Artstetten Castle</h3><p class='facts-text'>Franz Ferdinand and his wife were buried at Artstetten Castle in Lower Austria, which had been their home since 1888.</p></div></div>
Franz Ferdinand, born December 18, 1863, was an Austrian politician and Member of the House of Habsburg. He was assassinated on June 28, 1914, at the age of 50. He is best known for his assassination, which was the spark that ignited World War I.
