The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, held significant historical importance as it directly ignited World War I. Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was killed by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in Sarajevo, leading to a series of diplomatic crises. In response, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which, coupled with alliance systems, escalated into a full-scale war involving multiple nations. This event marked the beginning of unprecedented global conflict, ultimately reshaping international politics, leading to the collapse of empires and setting the stage for major socio-political changes in the 20th century, including the rise of totalitarian regimes and the complexities of future conflicts.