Franz Ferdinand (Franz Ferdinand)

(1863-1914) heir apparent of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, whose assassination led to World War. Born December 18, 1863 in Graz, the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, the younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph. Franz Ferdinand as a child was enrolled in the army. After several years of service, he traveled.
Father's death in 1896 made him heir to the throne, as the emperor's only son Crown Prince Rudolf in 1889 suicide. Then in the life of Franz Ferdinand's an important event occurred: he passionately in love with the Countess Sofia Hotekis. She belonged to the top of the Czech aristocracy, but was not "equal by birth ', ie. persons of royal blood, on family law Habsburgs. Despite all the obstacles, Franz Ferdinand to marry her July 1, 1900, agreeing that the children from their marriage would be denied inheritance rights. Ignoring the court to his wife (who was given the title Duchess Gogenberg) in the future is extremely irritated by Franz Ferdinand.

The aged Emperor entrusted him with the execution of certain military duties. In 1898, Franz Ferdinand was appointed Deputy Chief of the Army, from time to time the Emperor sent him to official missions abroad. Franz Ferdinand spent most of his time on his estates in various parts of the country, engaged in cultivation of gardens and especially hunting. He founded his own 'office' in his Vienna residence - the Belvedere Palace, which had gathered around him advisers - Count Czernin, Field Marshal Conrad von GцІtzendorf and other. It was known that he was planning a radical reform. First of all, the Archduke intended to undermine the power of the Hungarian aristocracy, which he hated. However, his ideas about what should be replaced by the dualistic system, with the passage of time changed. One possibility was the decision in the spirit trializma, ie. creation of a third, South Slavic state formation. In another time Franz Ferdinand allowed to become a monarchy into a federation of many parts. He maintained close relations with leaders nemadyarskih people in Hungary. Rumors about his plans have caused jealousy and suspicion among Serbian nationalists, and during his trip to Bosnia, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated along with his wife in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. This crime was the direct cause of the outbreak of the First World War.