A significant event that occurred in 1914, contributing to the start of World War I, was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, triggered a cascade of alliances and hostilities among European powers. The subsequent declaration of war emphasized existing tensions, including nationalism, militarism, and complex treaties, resulting in a full-scale global conflict. This event marked a turning point in history, reshaping nations and leading to profound political and social changes in the 20th century.