alternatehistory.com

I've wanted to write something on the Austro-Hungarian Empire for a while - like many others I find it a very interesting topic. I had a look around the forum and I don't think this POD has been used before, so hopefully this will be at least slightly original. :D Please comment.

I'll hopefully finish my British politics TL at some point, but I need to do a lot more reading so it's on hold for now.

VIRIBUS UNITIS[1]

PART ONE

The air was filled with the sound of whistles and shouting as the train pulled slowly away from the dusty station at Mostar. Summers in Herzegovina were usually hot, sometimes unbearably so, and 3 June 1910 was no exception. Austro-Hungarian policemen sweated in their thick uniforms as they escorted the imperial delegation along the platform, casting furtive glances at the crowds and ushering curious onlookers away with the butts of their rifles. The trip had so far been a success, with the Emperor spending four days in Sarajevo, the capital of recently annexed Bosnia, where he had reviewed troops and journeyed through the city in an open-topped carriage without any major security scares, despite reports of unrest amongst sections of the Slavic population. All that remained now was to ensure that the delegation reached the lavishly decorated imperial train, bound for the safety of Vienna.

On the far side of the platform, a gaunt-looking man with a slight limp and a shaking hand bustled his way through the crowd. Bogdan Zerajic, a law student and member of Mlada Bosna[2], had tracked the imperial party throughout the weeklong tour, waiting for his moment. Now that moment seemed at hand. As he pushed his way nearer and nearer to his target, he reached into a pocket and grasped the cool steel of his revolver. It had been supplied to him by a contact who had boasted that he had connection in high places – Zerajic hadn’t asked questions, simply accepting the weapon. He was close now, mere metres away from the uniformed soldiers and dignitaries surrounding the Emperor. The octogenarian Franz Joseph cut a dignified figure despite his advanced years, returning the waves and acclamations of the onlookers with a raised hand and the steely expression he reserved for public appearances. Zerajic squinted as the sun reflected off the numerous decorations on the Emperor’s chest – time seemed to slow, and his breath caught in his throat. Could he really pull the trigger? With a glance skywards, he plunged forwards, crying out “Ujedinjenje ili smrt!”[3] as he drew his pistol and fired twice.[4]

Screams followed the gunshots immediately – screams and panic as members of the bustling crowd ducked and dived in all directions. The pistol dropped to Zerajic’s side, and he tried in vain to see the result of his actions. Noblemen and officials were crouched around the Emperor, their plumed hats blocking Franz Joseph from sight, but he caught a glimpse of a red stain on a crisp white tunic before something hard – a fist or the stock of a rifle – caught the side of his head and everything went black.

The Emperor had been knocked backwards by the force of the impact. The second of the two shots had hit him the chest, and despite the bustling attention of his attendants he knew that their efforts would be in vain. Four men carried him into the imperial carriage as others rushed towards the assassin, lying mortally wounded having been assaulted by incensed bystanders and members of the Emperor’s entourage. Franz Joseph opened his mouth as if to speak, but thought against it. General Appel, upon whose crouching form the Emperor was resting, cried openly – few were alive who could remember clearly life before the old man’s reign. After a short period the Emperor coughed, his head coming to rest on his shoulder. His thoughts were of his first daughter, Sophie, his son Rudolf and of his wife. The creases on the old man’s face softened, and he appeared serene – even relieved. He would see all three of them again soon enough.

[1] With United Forces - the personal motto of Franz Joseph.
[2] Young Bosnia organisation - linked to the Black Hand.
[3] Unity or Death - a slogan of the pro-Serbian movement.
[4] In OTL Zerajic, who later claimed he was close enough to touch Franz Joseph on the platform, couldn't bring himself to shoot. A few weeks later he attempted to assassinate the governor of Bosnia instead, failed, and committed suicide to avoid capture.


The last photo of Franz Joseph, taken minutes before his assassination.
Top