June 28, 1914
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This event was carried out by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a nationalist group seeking independence for Slavic peoples. The assassination set off a chain reaction of political tensions in Europe.
The killing of the archduke led to a series of diplomatic crises, ultimately resulting in the outbreak of World War I. Countries formed alliances, and within weeks, major powers were drawn into conflict, changing the course of history and leading to significant global consequences.