Son of the younger brother of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor François-Joseph, Charles-Louis, François-Ferdinand is not called to reign. He devotes himself to hunting and makes a military career. But the death of the Emperor's only son, Rodolphe, upsets his destiny. His father renounces the throne and dies; François-Ferdinand therefore becomes the heir presumptive to the crown. His decision to marry Countess Sophie Chotek leads to two years of estrangement with her uncle the Emperor. Indeed, the one he wishes to marry is noble but not from a reigning family. His marriage will be morganatic, that is to say legitimate but not reigning, and his heirs will have no claim to the crown. He therefore very often escapes from his obligations to be with his wife. But, during a trip to Sarajevo, where he was going as Inspector General of the Armed Forces, a Serbian nationalist threw himself on the coach stopped in the middle of the street. The assassination of François-Ferdinand and his wife, on June 28, 1914, will be used as a pretext to start a war which will become world.
December 18, 1863 - June 28, 1914
Status
Politician
Heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire