WI Franz Ferdinand Killed, but Sophie Lives

What if the assassination of Franz Ferdinand only killed the Archduke, while his wife survives? How, if at all, does this complicate the outrage in the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Does that, in turn, have any effect on the events which OTL lead to war?
 
Franz Joseph did not want Ferdinand to marry Sophie. She wasn't good enough for a future Emperor. Her family line was not Royal enough. Their children were removed from the line of succession.

One effect would be that Gavrilio Princip would have had no regrets over the shooting. He told his interrogators that he did feel bad that he killed Sophie.
 
Franz Joseph did not want Ferdinand to marry Sophie. She wasn't good enough for a future Emperor. Her family line was not Royal enough. Their children were removed from the line of succession.
Yeah, though TBF he wasn't too crazy about Franz either, or Karl for that matter; Sophie being from "mere" Hungarian nobility did also make her very unpopular in aristocratic circles back in Vienna, which is part of the reason she and her husband were in Bosnia to begin with (to get away from the snobs).

This is part of why I think her living would complicate the reaction in the empire -- those who cry "Avenge Franz Ferdinand!" can't very well go out of their way to continue giving her the cold shoulder when she's the most direct victim of the assassination they're ostensibly upset about.
 
Last edited:
If she were willing to be the face of the tragedy I could see her being used for propaganda.

If not, or eventually, she gets cast aside, Finally goes on to do interviews in the 1950s about being there when the shots were fired that ignited The Great War.

I would love to see her call Franz Joseph on How angry he was over his nephew's death and using it to cause a war. If she could somehow stop or at least put off WWI that would be cool,
 
Yeah, though TBF he wasn't too crazy about Franz either, or Karl for that matter; Sophie being from "mere" Hungarian nobility did also make her very unpopular in aristocratic circles back in Vienna, which is part of the reason she and her husband were in Bosnia to begin with (to get away from the snobs).

This is part of why I think her living would complicate the reaction in the empire -- those who cry "Avenge Franz Ferdinand!" can't very well go out of their way to continue giving her the cold shoulder when she's the most direct victim of the assassination they're ostensibly upset about.
Sophie was from Bohemian nobility, not Hungarian.

If anything, she might have been turnes into a symbol of revenge. Avenge her husband's death in her name. Oskar Potiorek would have been even more suicidal/'motivated' in his 'mission' to avenge the Archduke in his strange sense of knighthood.

Unless he dies in Sophie's place. Which would be an overall great thing for Austro-Hungarian troops in Serbia.

Edit: Also, just to add: Franz Ferdinand and Sophie were also hated in aristocratic circles is that the Archduke was a complete and utter prick. Plus, Franz Josef just never recovered from losing his wife and son despite his tenuous relations with the latter.
 
Sophie Chotek was an ultra-Catholic and clericalist, and believed that she had been given some sort of a personal "holy mission" to save the Habsburg dynasty and its empire. Of course, it's hard to say how she would interpret that "holy mission" in the wake of the assassination - a call for peace, or for revenge?

Anyway, she was not liked or respected at court; so whether she comes out in favor of peace or war, it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference. There are only a few who would have seriously listened to her. Still, things could get interesting if she tries to, say, appeal on the Pope to intercede and defuse the situation.

Another question is - if the bullet meant for Potiorek doesn't hit the duchess, does that mean it hits Potiorek instead? That could result in a better Austro-Hungarian performance in Galicia, and avoid their disastrous first offensives against Serbia (with some chance of a more successful later offensive). It might also avoid some of the Austro-Hungarian army's massacres and war crimes on the Balkan front - but only some, as most other Habsburg generals were nearly as bloody-minded as Potiorek. In any case, this would have little to no effect on the war effort itself. Perhaps a less severe famine in Austria-Hungary, but owing more to events in Galicia than to the lower degree of devastation inflicted in Serbia.
 
I also wonder about Conrad von Hotzendorff in particular; his relationship with Franz Ferdinand was complicated. Anyone know or want to speculate on how that extended to Ferdinand's wife?
 
I also wonder about Conrad von Hotzendorff in particular; his relationship with Franz Ferdinand was complicated. Anyone know or want to speculate on how that extended to Ferdinand's wife?
Hötzendorf was Chief of Staff thanks to Franz Ferdinand. Sadly for the Empire.

To be honest, Sophie wouldn't have much influence on her own. Some aristocrats and members of the elite would listen to her, as previously mentioned, but I doubt much would change whether she survives or not when it comes to the people in power.
 
It changes nothing. Franz Ferdinand still dies, his reforms never get enacted, the War Still happens, and everything goes as IOTL. Sophie was not a political figure in Austro-Hungary, nor would she likely want to be after the assassination.
 
Top