Franz Ferdinand of Austria

Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914) was an Archduke of Austria, Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, and from 1896 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. He and his wife Sophie were assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. His death led to the great powers of Europe invoking their alliance systems against one another and going to war, touching off World War I.

Frand Ferdinand in The War That Came Early
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand was eerily echoed in 1938 when Czech nationalist Jaroslav Stribny assassinated Sudeten German leader Konrad Henlein. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler seized on this assassination as a casus belli to invade Czechoslovakia, which in turn touched off a second European war. Hitler took great delight in noting both assassins were Slavs.

Franz Ferdinand in Southern Victory
When Franz Ferdinand's vehicle was blown up by assassins, Austria-Hungary issued a number of ultimata against Serbia, which was supported by Russia. Austria-Hungary was in turn supported by Germany and the United States. Russia invoked its alliances with Britain, France, and the Confederate States, and the Great War began.

Franz Ferdinand's death inspired Arthur McGregor's last failed attempt to assassinate George Custer in 1923.