Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was unpopular in Viennese society and hated by the Serbian nationalists. Though he wanted a quiet life with his beloved family, he accepted his role as heir to the throne - and all the dangers that came with it. But an official visit to Sarajevo in the summer of 1914 was so poorly planned that one aide described the archduke's safety as having been left “in God's hands".

Young Serbian revolutionary zealots wanted to strike a blow against the hated House of Habsburg, the imperial rulers of Bosnia. The visit of Franz Ferdinand to Sarajevo gave them the perfect opportunity.

Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie survived a bomb thrown at their open-top car as they travelled through Sarajevo. But then - remarkably - they returned via the same route, giving assassins another opportunity to strike.

This week on Assassinations Podcast, we explore the history and conspiracies surrounding the murder of the heir to the Austo-Hungarian throne.