He had been informed of terrorist activity conducted by the nationalist organization the 'Black Hand,' but ignored the warnings. In the summer of 1914, Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie accepted an invitation to visit the capital of Bosnia, Sarajevo. Though he cared little for their nationalist ambitions, he advocated for a careful approach with the Serbs, warning his military leaders that harsh treatment toward them could cause an open conflict with Russia. This idea was in direct conflict with the Serbian nationalists who had designs of breaking off with Bosnia and Herzegovina to form an independent state. He also considered forming a federal government of 16 states, calling it the United States of Greater Austria.

However, this idea was unpopular with the ruling elite, further stirring doubts of Franz Ferdinand's sanity. One matter is clear: Franz Ferdinand understood that the empire was disintegrating and, thusly, that something needed to be done.Īt one point, Franz Ferdinand proposed changing the Austro-Hungarian rule with a triple monarchy of Slavs, Germans and Magyars, each having an equal voice in government. He was also rumored to be insane due to the inbreeding of the Hapsburg family. Archduke Franz Ferdinand's public persona was cold, sharped-tongued and short-tempered. The only thing the divergent ethnic people hated more than each other was Hapsburgs. Archduke of Austria-HungaryĪustria-Hungary was a polyglot empire of different ethnic groups at odds with each other over religion and politics, and united to a flag that wasn't theirs.

Franz Joseph finally agreed on the condition that no descendants of Franz and his new wife succeed to the throne. Eventually, several influential European leaders, including Pope Leo XIII, argued on behalf of the love-sick Franz, stating that the disagreement was undermining the stability of the monarchy. After the family was informed of the relationship, Emperor Franz Joseph refused to give his permission to the marriage. The deeply in love Franz Ferdinand refused to marry anyone else, however, so the couple kept their relationship secret. However, marriage to a Hapsburg required that one be a member of a reigning or formally reigning dynasty of Europe, and the Choteks were neither. In 1894, Franz Ferdinand met Countess Sophia Chotek and the couple quickly fell in love. After the suicide of the emperor's son, Crown Prince Rudolf, in 1889, and his own father's death from typhoid fever in 1896, Franz Ferdinand was groomed to inherit the throne. He began his military career at age 12 and was quickly promoted through the ranks becoming a major general at age 31. Franz Ferdinand was a member of the House of Hapsburg, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Spanish Empire. Early Life and Marriageįranz Ferdinand was born in Graz, Austria, on December 18, 1863, the oldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, who was the younger brother of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph.

One month later, Austria declared war on Serbia and World War I began. In 1914, a Serb nationalist assassinated him. While in power, he attempted to restore Austro-Russian relations while maintaining an alliance with Germany. In 1900, Ferdinand gave up his children's rights to the throne in order to marry a lady-in-waiting. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was born in 1863 in Austria.

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