- His German background: Franz Ferdinand was a member of the Habsburg dynasty, which was of German origin, and he spoke German as his first language. Many Austrians resented his German heritage and felt that he was not truly Austrian.
- His conservative political views: Franz Ferdinand was a staunch conservative who opposed democracy, liberalism, and socialism. He was also a strong supporter of the Catholic Church and traditional social values. His views were out of touch with those of many Austrians, who were becoming increasingly liberal and secular in their outlook.
- His militarism: Franz Ferdinand was a military man and a strong advocate of Austria's military strength. He believed that war was necessary to preserve the Habsburg Empire and to defend Austria from its enemies. This militarism was not popular among many Austrians, who were weary of war after the recent Balkan Wars.
- His marriage to Sophie Chotek: Franz Ferdinand married Sophie Chotek, a Bohemian countess, in 1900. Sophie was not considered to be a suitable wife for the Archduke, as she was of lower social status and not a member of the Habsburg dynasty. This marriage further eroded Franz Ferdinand's popularity among many Austrians.
Overall, Franz Ferdinand was not well liked by many Austrians. He was seen as a symbol of the old, conservative order, and his unpopularity was a contributing factor to the events leading up to his assassination in 1914, which sparked the outbreak of World War I.