Francois Ferdinand - Archduke of Austria - (full name Franz Ferdinand Karl Anik?Belschwitz M犡ic B嫮int Szilveszter G闣pi Bzoch J嫕os Frajkor Ludwig Josef von Habsburg-Lothringen) - Franz Ferdinand (December 18, 1863 - June 28, 1914) was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Imperial of Austria and Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, and from 1896 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated the Austrian declaration of war. This caused countries allied with Austria-Hungary (the Central Powers) and countries allied with Serbia (the Entente Powers) to declare war on each other, starting World War I. ?007 TopFoto