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Franz Ferdinand was born in 1863, one of Austria's numerous archdukes before the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His rise to prominence began early when he inherited a vast estate following the death of a cousin. His future drastically altered in 1889 when Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide, leading Ferdinand's father to renounce his claim to the throne. This left Ferdinand as the heir apparent—a position he held until his assassination at the age of 50.