| Franz Ferdinand | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria |
|
Born |
December 18, 1863 |
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Died |
June 28, 1914 |
Origin[]
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. After the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf and his father, Karl Ludwig, he became next in line to rule. His marriage to Sophie Chotek, a commoner, caused tension in the royal family and was only permitted on the condition that their children would not inherit the throne. Franz Ferdinand held major military influence and was appointed inspector general in 1913.
On June 28, 1914, he and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the nationalist group Young Bosnia. This assassination triggered the July Crisis, leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia — a chain of events that quickly escalated into World War I.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Franz Ferdinand from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Weird Thrillers #3: On the eve of the start of World War I, the Monsigneur finds a letter, that then vanishes, from Franz Ferdinand, that foretells the archduke's own assassination that ingnites the global conflict.