Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, born on December 18, 1863. He was the son of Archduke Karl Ludwig and Princess Maria Theresa. His assassination in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the nationalist group Black Hand, is widely regarded as the spark that ignited World War I. Franz Ferdinand's death led to a series of political crises and alliances that escalated into a global conflict. His assassination prompted Austria-Hungary to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, which ultimately resulted in the declaration of war and the involvement of multiple nations.