The sound of two bullets being fired echoed through the once peaceful Savejo Street. Each shot was followed by the nauseating sound of lead piercing flesh as the sovereign Duke of Austria-Hungary fell. People ran and tried to attack the attacker but were quickly restrained by the police who took control of the situation. A small crowd quickly formed, gathered around the victims and came to a disturbing conclusion. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were assassinated by an overly passionate 17-year-old nationalist, Gavrilo Princip ("Francis Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este" Encyclopedia Britannica). People mourned his death and were outraged when Princip was sent to prison instead of being executed (Duffy, "Who's Who - Gavirlo Princip"). Little did they know that the shot fired at the Duke would have a greater impact than that heard around the world. This lone bullet would unleash the pent-up aggression of ancient nations and drag the world into a war unlike any it has ever seen. How did the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand affect the wars in Europe over the next 100 years? Well, due to the magnitude of this issue, I can't explain its impact in the space of just 2000 words; instead, I will focus primarily on World War I and World War II. In answer to the question above, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, combined with other factors, allowed the outbreak of World War I, while sowing the seeds of World War II. Ferdinand's death was not much mourned by the Austro-Hungarian government or Frank Joseph the Emperor of the time. Rather, this loss served as a pretext to establish authority and influence within the Balkans, via the Ser...... middle of paper ......ol Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. March 11, 2011. “International Relations” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. March 15, 2011..United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “TREATY OF VERSAILLES, 1919.” HOLOCAUST ENCYCLOPEDIA. WASHINGTON, DC:Web.."Versailles, Treatise of" Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. March 15, 2011."World War I" Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. March 11. 2011..