An Archduke is a noble title that is often associated with the royal family of Austria. It is a rank above a duke and is typically used for the sons and daughters of an emperor or empress. The most famous Archduke in history is probably Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 sparked the beginning of World War I. The title of Archduke signifies a high level of prestige and authority within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Archdukes often held significant political power and were involved in the governance of their territories. Their role was crucial in the complex social and political structures of European nobility during the late medieval and early modern periods.