German Franz Ferdinand
born Dec. 18, 1863, Graz, Austria
died June 28, 1914, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Archduke of Austria, whose assassination was the immediate cause of World War I .
Nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph , he became heir apparent in 1896. His desire to marry Sophie, countess von Chotek, a lady-in-waiting, brought him into sharp conflict with the emperor, and the marriage was only allowed after he agreed to renounce his future children's rights to the throne. From 1906 he exerted influence in military matters and became inspector general of the army (1913). While on an official visit in Sarajevo in June 1914, he and his wife were assassinated by the Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip . In July Austria declared war against Serbia, precipitating World War I.