Archduke Franz-Ferdinand (1863-1914) and Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg (1868-1914)

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Franz Ferdinand Karl Ludwig Joseph, Archduke of Austria-Este, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Hungary and Bohemia (Graz 18 December 1863 - assassinated at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914); married (morganatically) in Reichstadt on 1 July 1900 Countess Sophie Maria Josephine Albina Chotek von Chotkova und Wognin (Stuttgart 1 March 1868 - assassinated at Sarajevo on 28 June 1914)

Children: Countess Sophie von Nostitz-Rieneck; Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg; Prince Ernst of Hohenberg and a stillborn son

Parents Franz-Ferdinand: Archduke Karl-Ludwig of Austria and Princess Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies

Parents Sophie: Count Bohuslaw Chotek von Chotkova und Wognin and Countess Wilhelmine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau

Siblings Franz-Ferdinand: Archduke Otto of Austria; Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Austria and Duchess Margrethe of Württemberg

Half-Sisters Franz-Ferdinand: Archduchess Maria Annunziata of Austria, Abbess of the Theresia Convent in Prague; and Princess Elisabeth of Liechtenstein

Siblings Sophie: Count Wolfgang Chotek von Chotkow; Countess Sidonia, nun of the Saint Heart of Jesus Order in Riedenburg; Fürstin Maria Pia of Thun-Hohenstein; Countess Karolina of Nostitz-Rieneck; Countess Theresa Chotek von Chotkow; Countess Oktavia of Schönburg-Glauchau-Waldenburg; Countess Maria Antonia von Wuthenau-Hohenturm and Countess Marie-Henriette of Nostitz-Rieneck

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Franz Ferdinand (December 18, 1863 – June 28, 1914) was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Imperial of Austria and Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, and from 1896 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated the Austrian declaration of war. This caused countries allied with Austria-Hungary (the Central Powers) and countries allied with Serbia (the Triple Entente Powers) to declare war on each other, starting World War I.
Full Name: Franz Ferdinand Karl Giuermo Anikò Strezpek Belschwitz Mòric Pinche Bálint Szilveszter Gömpi Maurice Bzoch János Frajkor Ludwig van Haverbeke Josef von Habsburg-Lothringen , was born in Graz, Austria, the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria (younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph and Maximilian I of Mexico) and of his second wife, Princess Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies. When he was only twelve years old, his cousin Duke Francis V of Modena died, naming Franz Ferdinand his heir on condition that he add the name Este to his own. Franz Ferdinand thus became one of the wealthiest men in Austria.
When he was born, there was no reason to think that Franz Ferdinand would ever be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. He was given the normal strict education of an archduke with an emphasis on history and moral character. From 1876 to 1885 his tutor was the historian Onno Klopp. In 1883 Franz Ferdinand entered the army with the rank of third lieutenant.
As a young man, Franz Ferdinand developed two great passions: hunting and travel. It is estimated that he shot more than 5,000 deer in his lifetime. In 1883, he visited Italy for the first time in order to see the properties left to him by Duke Francis V of Modena. In 1885, he visited Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey. In 1889, he visited Germany.

Read the entire wikipedia article here.

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Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, born Sophie Maria Josephine Albina Chotek, Countess of Chotkova and Wognin (March 1, 1868 - June 28, 1914). She died at the age of 46. She is the morganatic wife of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Their assassination sparked World War I. (de: Sophie Maria Josephine Albina Chotek Gräfin von Chotkova und Wognin, later the Fürstin von Hohenberg, since 1909 Herzogin von Hohenberg, cs: Žofie Marie Josefína Albína hraběnka Chotková z Chotkova a Vojnína, later the kněžna z Hohenbergu, since 1909 vévodkyně z Hohenbergu)

Sophie was born in Stuttgart to a prominent Bohemian aristocratic family. She was the fourth daughter of Count Bohuslaw Chotek von Chotkova und Wognin and of his wife, Countess Wilhelmine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. As a young woman, Sophie became lady-in-waiting to the Archduchess Isabella, wife of Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen. It is unknown where Sophie first met Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, though many claim a ball in Prague.
Sophie and Franz Ferdinand kept their relationship a secret for years. When Franz Ferdinand began to make regular visits to the home of Archduke Friedrich, it was assumed that he had fallen in love with his eldest daughter, Marie Christine. When the relationship was discovered by Archduchess Isabella a public scandal was created.
Emperor Franz Joseph made it clear to Franz Ferdinand that he could not marry Sophie. To be an eligible partner for a member of the Austro-Hungarian imperial family, one must be a member of one of the reigning or formerly reigning dynasties of Europe. The Choteks were not one of these families, although they did include among their ancestors in the female line princes of Baden, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and Liechtenstein. Ironically one of Sophia's direct ancestors was Count Albrecht IV of Hapsburg; she was descended from Elisabeth von Hapsburg a sister of King Rudolph I of Germany.
Franz Ferdinand insisted he would not marry anyone else. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and Pope Leo XIII all made representations to Franz Joseph on Franz Ferdinand's behalf arguing that the disagreement was undermining the stability of the monarchy.

Read the entire wikipedia article here.