Franz Ferdinand

Archduke Ferdinand was the heir to the Austrian throne who was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia on 28 June 1914.

He was killed by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian terrorist protesting Austria's claims on Sarajevo and the rest of Bosnia, territories the Serbs believed were rightfully theirs. (PROSE: Human Nature)

Ferdinand's death led directly to the First World War, "through nations having treaties with nations", according to the Tenth Doctor. (TV: The Family of Blood)

Unbeknownst to the general populace, however, the start of the war was influenced by the passage of the Nemesis statue around Earth in November 1913. (TV: Silver Nemesis)

Behind the scenes

 * Family of Blood only refers to Ferdinand as an "Archduke of Austria", while the Human Nature novel calls him "Archduke Ferdinand". Because of the need to distinguish him from other Ferdinands, this wiki requires a name beyond simply "Ferdinand". Thus, we deem him to be "Franz Ferdinand", since Human Nature gives its readers so many other specific indications that the real-life Ferdinand is being referenced.