Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Era of Assassination

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand owned a bulletproof vest that could have saved his life, but he did not wear it on the day of his assassination. This book explores the risks associated with power and status in the early 20th century and highlights the technological development of pistols used in assassination plots.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2018
Publisher: Trustees of the Royal Armouries

The 'shot heard around the world' that resulted in the outbreak of the First World War is commonly attributed to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. However, less widely known is the fact that the Archduke owned a bulletproof vest manufactured by Polish priest-turned-inventor Casimir Zeglen. Lisa Traynor, in her book titled 'The Shot That Killed: Assessing the Design and Composition of Zeglen's Armours and the Technological Development of Pistols Used in Assassination Plots', explores the risks associated with power and status in the early 20th century. Traynor reconstructs a bulletproof vest and uses a Royal Armouries Browning Model 1910 pistol identical to the one used by the Archduke's assassin. She analyzes the design and composition of Zeglen's armors and charts the technological development of pistols used in assassination plots during that period. Traynor tests her findings on a replica of the Archduke's bulletproof vest, raising the haunting question: would Franz Ferdinand have survived if he had been wearing body armor on the day of his assassination?

This fascinating book, featured in the BBC TV series 'Sword, Musket and Machine Gun: Britains Armed History', breaks new ground in our understanding of the outbreak of the First World War. It sheds light on the technological advancements and the societal dynamics that contributed to the tragic event that changed the course of history.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 237 x 169 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780948092886