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 on July 25, 1894, in the village of Obljaj, near Bosansko Grahovo. He is most famously known for assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo. This assassination is widely regarded as the event that triggered World War I. Princip grew up in a poor peasant family and showed early signs of political activism, influenced by the nationalist movements that swept through the Balkans in the early 20th century. He joined the Young Bosnia movement, which sought the end of Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina and aimed to unify the South Slavic peoples. His assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was intended to strike a blow against Austro-Hungarian imperialism, but it set off a chain of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Princip was arrested immediately after the assassination and was too young to receive the death penalty under Austro-Hungarian law. Instead, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, where he died of tuberculosis on April 28, 1918.

5 Interesting Facts about Gavrilo Princip

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

2. He was a member of the secretive Black Hand organization, which supported South Slavic nationalism.

3. Princip’s assassination of the Archduke led to a series of events that escalated into World War I.

4. He suffered from severe health issues during his imprisonment and ultimately died of tuberculosis.

5. Princip’s actions are viewed differently depending on the perspective: some see him as a hero of South Slavic nationalism, while others view him as a terrorist.

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, stroll around the court, frighten the lords.”

3. “I aimed for the head of the Archduke, but hit him in the neck.”

4. “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.”

5. “Long live the union of the Yugoslavs!”