We tell the tragic love story of Sophie, who married the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and whose murder helped start WW1. Like so many women she was belittled when alive and forgotten when dead. We put her back in the story.----more----

From a modest family she was not noble enough to marry into Royalty. But Franz Ferdinand and her shared a forbidden love. Until it was discovered by chance. Scandal ensued. The Hapsburg Emperor forbade the match. But eventually relented. But at a terrible price for Sophie and Franz. Their children were disinherited. She was to be treated as the lowest person at Court. They accepted the sacrifice for love. We see how these slights led Franz and her to make a series of fateful decisions on that day in Sarajevo. The decision to travel together in the car and her refusal to leave his side are all explained by the prejudice and abuse she received in Austria. Her devotion played into the hands of Gavrilo Princeps. And they were both shot dead. The Archuke’s last words were for her. Their death led directly to the outbreak of World War One.

We raise questions about the shooting in Sarajevo which led to World War 1

We tell the story of the Hapsburg monarch and how it built and empire through marriage.

We tell how those marriage rules meant marrying for love was almost impossible

We tell how Sophie, from a modest background, met Archduke Ferdinand before World War 1

We tell how their affair was discovered and a great scandal ensued.

Eventually Sophie and Franz are allowed to marry

We show the similarities between their story and the Cinderella story.

But their children are disinherited.

Sophie is treated appallingly by the rich families of Vienna

In 1914 the couple visit Sarajevo

They are shot dead by Gavrilo Princeps.

This shooting precipitates the outbreak of World War 1

But after their death the Archduke’s Will is read and he ensures that finally he and Sophie are treated equally.

If you liked his episode you may also enjoy our other episode on the outbreak of World War 1

https://www.historystorytime.com/e/why-did-world-war-one-start/