Franz Ferdinand Karl Ludwig Josef of Austria , Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este ( Franz Ferdinand Karl Ludwig Josef ; ) ( December 18 , 1863 â `` June 28 , 1914 ) was an Archduke of Austria and , from 1896 until his death , heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian emperor . Franz Ferdinand ( 18 December 1863 -- 28 June 1914 ) was an Archduke of Austria-Este , Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia , and from 1889 until his death , heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne .