Franz Ferdinand: Not Just a Band from Glasgow

Franz Ferdinand isn’t just the name of a Scottish indie rock band that took the world by storm in the early 2000s; it’s also the name of a former Archduke of Austria-Hungary.

Born in 1863, Franz Ferdinand was the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria and his wife, Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. As a member of the House of Habsburg, he was blessed with wealth, privilege, and the ability to effortlessly grow a handlebar mustache.

In 1900, he married Countess Sophie Chotek, a lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Isabella. Their marriage was scandalous (for the time) because Sophie was not of equal rank to Franz Ferdinand. Apparently, love truly knows no bounds when you’re a member of royalty.

But Franz Ferdinand’s legacy goes beyond his love life. In fact, he played a pivotal role in starting World War I. In 1914, while on a visit to Sarajevo, he and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. This event sparked a chain reaction of alliances and enemies being called upon, which eventually led to the start of the First World War.

So, in a strange twist of fate, Franz Ferdinand helped bring about one of the deadliest wars in human history. Talk about a rock star move!

Despite his checkered legacy, Franz Ferdinand did leave an indelible mark on history. He inspired the works of countless artists, including the band that would one day bear his name. And sure, maybe he wasn’t the best husband (seeing as marrying someone of unequal rank was kind of a jerk move), but he definitely lived life on his own terms.

So, next time you’re bobbing your head to “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand, remember that the band’s namesake was more than just a footnote in history. He was a man who lived and died on his own terms, and that’s a legacy worth celebrating (even if it did indirectly cause a world war).