Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand (German : Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este), archduke of Austria and crown prince of the austro-Hungarian empire, was born in Graz on 18décembre1863 and death the 28juin1914 the victim of an assassination in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). His assassination is considered as the trigger of the First world War.

In spite of the strategies the family, he falls in love with a lady of honour, of blood noble, but not royal, Sophie Chotek of Chotkowa and Wognin, a young woman of 30 years old from a family of diplomats. When he announces his intention to marry her, he must confront the emperor François-Joseph.

The archduke must make an official visit to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, a region recently annexed by Austria-Hungary on 28 June 1914. This day being one of their fourteenth wedding anniversary, archduke imposed on its sides by the presence of his wife. He also wants to take advantage of this opportunity to share with his wife the honours that he himself received usually. He was aware of the danger he ran in going to Sarajevo. He had entrusted his near-certainty of being murdered, his nephew the Archduke Charles.