born Sept. 27, 1854, Gross-Skal, Bohemia
died Feb. 17, 1912, Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Austro-Hungarian diplomat.
As foreign minister of Austria-Hungary (190612), he aggressively revived the empire's dormant foreign policy. His proclamation of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 provoked fears of war with Russia, inflamed Serbia's Austrophobe passions, and drew international censure, leading to the Bosnian crisis .