Gavrilo Princip

Date of Birth: July 25, 1894

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: April 28, 1918

Biography

Gavrilo Princip was a Bosnian Serb revolutionary born in the late 19th century. He is most famous for assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914. This act is widely acknowledged as the immediate catalyst for World War I. Princip was a member of the Black Hand, a secret military society that aimed to create a Greater Serbia. He was born into a peasant family and grew up in a period of intense nationalistic fervor in the Balkans. As a young man, Princip was deeply influenced by the political climate of his time, marked by the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of nationalist movements. He moved to Belgrade to complete his education and became involved with various revolutionary groups. His assassination of the Archduke was an act driven by his desire to see an end to Austro-Hungarian rule over the South Slavs. After the assassination, Princip was arrested and put on trial. Due to his age, he was not given the death penalty but was instead sentenced to 20 years in prison. His health deteriorated rapidly in prison due to harsh conditions, and he ultimately succumbed to tuberculosis.

5 Interesting Facts about Gavrilo Princip

1. Gavrilo Princip was only 19 years old when he assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

2. He was inspired by the nationalist ideals of the Young Bosnia movement.

3. Princip failed his first attempt to assassinate the Archduke, but succeeded later that same day.

4. He was imprisoned in the Theresienstadt fortress, where he endured extremely harsh conditions.

5. Princip weighed only 40 kilograms (88 lbs) at the time of his death due to the severe malnutrition and illness he suffered in prison.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gavrilo Princip

1. “I am a Yugoslav nationalist, aiming for the unification of all Yugoslavs, and I do not care what form of state, but it must be free from Austria.”

2. “Our shadows will walk through Vienna, strolling through the court, frightening the lords.”

3. “I am a son of peasants and I know what is happening in the villages. That is why I wanted to take revenge, and I regret nothing.”

4. “The war was bound to happen sooner or later.”

5. “I am not a criminal, for I destroyed a bad man. I thought I was right.”