The assassination of which historical figure is commonly cited as a catalyst for the outbreak of World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is widely recognized as the immediate catalyst for the outbreak of World War I. On June 28, 1914, he was killed in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of a nationalist group seeking to free Serbia from Austro-Hungarian rule. This event set off a chain reaction of political crises and alliances that ultimately led to the declaration of war by various nations.

Franz Ferdinand was the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his assassination not only enraged the Austro-Hungarian government but also created a crisis with Serbia and its ally, Russia. The tensions between the Eurocentric empires were already high, and this incident was the spark that ignited existing rivalries and long-standing tensions. The assassination prompted Austria-Hungary to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, which escalated quickly as other nations entered the conflict due to their alliances and treaties, leading to a full-scale war.

Understanding the role of Franz Ferdinand's assassination is crucial as it highlights how a single event can drastically alter the course of history, showcasing the complex interplay of nationalism, militarism, and alliances in the latent European tensions of the early 20th century.