Why was archduke franz ferdinand?
Austro-Hungary had a great deal of influence in the Balkans and Archduke Franz Ferdinand was working to transform the dual monarchy of Austria and Hungary into a triple version which inluded a Slavic kingdom. This upset a number of ethnic groups within each kingdom, so from roughly 1906 he exerted influence in all matters military should the army be required to force this positioning through. In 1913 he was created inspector general of the combined armies and it was in this capacity he was in Sarajevo with his wife when he was assassinated. His popularity in Sarajevo was divided along political and ethnic groups; however there were hours of anti-Serbian riots after the Archduke’s death became widely known.
