Who was Gavrilo Princip?

Who: Bosnian-Serbian nationalist who, at 19, assassinated heir-apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg.

Why is he important? : His assassination of the Archduke began a chain of events which led to Austria invading Serbia and the beginning of the Great War. 

Born: 25 July 1894

Died: 28 April 1918

Place of birth: Oblijaj, Bosnia.

 

Sarajevo still divided 100 years after Archduke assassination (RTÉ News)

Princip had become part of a Serbian secret society called the ‘Black Hand’ from a young age, whose aim was to destroy Austro-Hungarian rule in the Balkans and unify all Yugoslavs into one nation. In order to do this he believed it was necessary to assassinate a member of government or of the Habsburg family. A complicated assassination plot was developed and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place.

Immediately following the assassination Princip was arrested and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, as he was just one month short of being the required age to receive the death sentence. He died of tuberculosis four years into his sentence.