On this day in 1914, in Sarajevo, a Serbian nationalist shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austria-Hungary Empire, and his expectant wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. The assassin was 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, one six Bosnian Serbs trained by Serbian military officers.
One month after the two were murdered, World War I began. Scholars continue to debate why exactly the war started. There had been diplomatic skirmishes since the mid-1800s in Europe.
One immediate cause was territorial disputes in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary struggled again Serbia and Russia for territory and influence in the region. Through treaties, alliances and family ties, they pulled the rest of the Great Powers into the conflict
Find out what's happening in Loganville-Graysonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.