Archduke Franz Ferdinand

[4erin]

BackgroundFranz Ferdinand was born a super super long time ago, on December 18, 1863 in Graz, Austria. He was the oldest son to Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. Apparently his first name is Franz, not Archduke. Franz Ferdinand was an Archduke of Austria-Este. An Archduke is a rank above Grand Duke but a rank under King, in which it derives from a word that means middle. Things are starting to make some sense now. Mr. Ferdinand was also Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and he was heir presumptive to the Astro-Hungarian throne from 1889 until he died. A heir presumptive means that he was next in inherit the throne. At a point in his life, Franz was the wealthiest man in Austria. Anyways, his life made a turn in 1889 when one of his relatives commited suicide putting his father next in line for the throne but he didn't want it which put Franz next in line.The AssassinationT'was a Sunday, the date being June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovinia. (say that ten times fast.) The first attempt of assasination happened that day, when someone threw a grenade at Franz and his wife Sophie Ferdinand. The grenade depleted and blew up a safe distance from the couple. Franz and Sophie insisted on going to the hospital to visit the ones that were wounded, and so they did. On the way back to the palace, the driver took a wrong turn. That is where the couple met 19 year old Gavrilo Princip of Young Bosnia. Princip was a member of the assassination group that was organized by the Black Hand. Princip first shot Sophie in the abdomen, and after that he shot Franz in the jugular.The aids attempted to save Franz, but realized that the coat he was wearing had to be cut open. Franz died before that ever happened. His dying words to Sophie were "Sopherl! Sopherl! Sterbe nicht! Bleibe am Leben für unsere Kinder!" Which is translated to, "Sophie dear! Don't die! Stay alive for our children!". Sophie died on the way to the hospital. The death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand lead to a chain of events which started World War One.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand_of_Austria

[Mr. Bruns]

You could touch more on Princip and the Black Hand!!