3. The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914)
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, sent shockwaves across Europe. This single act, far more consequential than most high-profile assassinations, triggered a chain reaction that led to World War I almost overnight. As detailed by Britannica, the event instantly shifted alliances and set the stage for a conflict that would reshape the global order.
