June 28, 2014, marked the centennial anniversary of the beginning of World War 1. This war was a horrific bloodbath, and it gave birth to Fascist and Communist totalitarianism. I recall in my history classes learning that Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated, and his murder led to World War 1. I also recall a casual footnote that the Archduke was accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, and she, too, was killed.
Until recently, I didn’t even know the name of this tragic duchess, Sophie Chotek, more details about her life. Sophie was a member of a Bohemian noble family, but one that did not carry too much weight in aristocratic circles. However, fate would engage Sophie in a beautiful love story that ended in personal tragedy. I think learning about this humble early 20th-century woman is worth a few minutes. Her story will uncover the harsh structure of past nobility — today’s “commoner queens” (Letizia of Spain and Maxima of The Netherlands) certainly would not be queen consorts to their respective royal husbands.
Read the full story: “Franzi” and “Soph”: the personal tragedy that sparked WWI.
Editorial Update: We strive to keep our content accurate and up-to-date. As part of our ongoing efforts, this article has been moved from Personal Musings to LIFESTYLE & MUSINGS on 09/20/2023.
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Regards Ian (Editor)