Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Definition

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand refers to the event that took place on June 28, 1914, when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife were killed by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo. This event is considered the immediate cause of World War I.

Related terms

Gavrilo Princip: Gavrilo Princip was the Serbian nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He believed in creating an independent South Slavic nation and belonged to a group called "The Black Hand."

Triple Entente: The Triple Entente refers to the alliance between France, Russia, and Britain formed as a counterbalance against Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Alliance System: The alliance system was an intricate web of agreements between countries before World War I. It created two major factions: Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain) and Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary).