The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 triggered a series of events leading to World War I. It precipitated alliances like the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente into a large-scale conflict, leading to unprecedented global warfare. The assassination heightened existing tensions in Europe, leading to declarations of war in a matter of weeks. This marked the start of a devastating conflict that ultimately reshaped borders, resulted in millions of casualties, and set the stage for future geopolitical shifts, including the rise of fascism and World War II.