The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 triggered a series of alliances and conflicts that escalated into World War I. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and soon, major powers like Germany, Russia, France, and Britain were pulled into the conflict through their alliances.

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Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination attempt -

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was chaotic. Serbian radicals aimed to bomb the royal during his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Franz swatted the bomb away to protect his wife, but the explosion injured bystanders.

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Archduke Franz Ferdinand's famous last words -

After visiting the bombing victims in the hospital, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were fatally shot by Gavrilo Princip as their car passed by. The dying Archduke is said to have murmured "Es ist nichts... es ist nichts," meaning "It is nothing."

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Mary, Queen of Scots -

In the late 1500s, Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I of England were rivals, even though they were first cousins once removed. After a combination of political and personal crises, Mary fled to England where she was imprisoned by Elizabeth.

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Mary, Queen of Scots' death sentence -

Elizabeth I tried to avoid executing Mary, but once Mary was implicated in a plot against Elizabeth, it became evident that she posed a threat to Elizabeth's throne. Consequently, Mary was sentenced to death by beheading.

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Mary, Queen of Scots' famous last words -

Mary faced her death bravely and tried to get the event over with quickly, repeating "In manus, Domine, tuas commendo animam meam" or "O Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit."

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George V -

George V was the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 1910 until his death in 1936. His health had been in decline since 1928, due to a series of illnesses and complications.

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George V's famous last words -

According to the palace, George V's famous last words were "How's the Empire?" but in a private journal, the king's physician wrote that George V's last words were "God damn you."

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Joachim Murat, King of Naples -

Joachim Murat was a French marshal and King of Naples from 1808 to 1815. Known for his flamboyant style, Murat modernized Naples but was overthrown after Napoleon's fall. He was executed in 1815 while attempting to regain power.

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Joachim Murat, King of Naples' famous last words -

Found guilty of attempting to stage an insurrection in Naples, Murat was sentenced to death by firing squad. Allegedly, he refused a blindfold, turned to the firing squad, and said, "Save my face; aim at my heart."

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Empress Dowager Cixi -

Empress Dowager Cixi was a powerful and influential figure in late Qing Dynasty China. Initially a concubine of Emperor Xianfeng, she became the mother of Emperor Tongzhi and later the regent of her young nephew, Emperor Guangxu.

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Empress Dowager Cixi -

Despite never officially ruling as an empress, Dowager Cixi effectively controlled the Qing government for decades through her regency and held on to her power until her death in 1908.

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Empress Dowager Cixi's famous last words -

According to those present at her deathbed, her 'official' last words were, "Never again allow any woman to hold supreme power in the State. It is against the house law of our dynasty and should be strictly forbidden."

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Louis XIV -

Louis XIV, also known as Louis the Great, was King of France from 1643 to 1715. His reign is one of the longest in European history, lasting 72 years.

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Louis XIV's famous last words -

On his deathbed in 1715, aged 76, Louis XIV's final words were reported to be, "Je m'en vais, mais l'État demeurera toujours," meaning "I am leaving, but the State will always remain."

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Elisabeth, Empress of Austria -

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria, commonly known as Sisi, was the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and became Queen of Hungary in 1867, holding the title until her assassination in 1898.

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Elisabeth, Empress of Austria's assassination -

In 1898, Elisabeth traveled to Switzerland under a fake name. However, her real identity was revealed, and Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni, motivated by his radical political beliefs and desire to make a high-profile statement against royalty and the ruling classes, decided to kill her.

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Elisabeth, Empress of Austria's famous last words -

While she was waiting to board a ship, Luigi Luccheni stabbed Elisabeth in the chest. After seeing the blood on her clothes she asked, bewildered, "What has happened?" She then lost consciousness and died a few hours later.

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George IV -

George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1820 to 1830. He was known for his extravagant lifestyle, lavish spending, and involvement in various scandals.

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George IV's famous last words -

George IV's death was long and drawn out and if his last words are anything to go by, his doctors downplayed just how dire the king's situation was. On June 26, he suddenly woke up after sleeping for 24 hours and shouted, "This is death. Oh God, they have deceived me," then died.

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Marie Antoinette -

Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France from 1774 to 1792. During the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette was a focal point of criticism and was accused of various crimes against the state.

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Marie Antoinette's famous last words -

In 1793, Marie Antoinette was tried and found guilty of treason. She was executed by guillotine on October 16. Moments before her death, she accidentally stepped on the executioner's foot and reportedly said her final words: "Pardon me, sir, I did not do it on purpose."

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Peter I, Tsar of Russia -

Peter I, commonly known as Peter the Great, was Tsar of Russia from 1682 until his death in 1725. He is best known for his extensive reforms and efforts to bring Russia into the mainstream of European politics and culture.

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Peter I, Tsar of Russia's famous last words -

Peter the Great died on February 8, 1725. He succumbed to a urinary tract infection that developed into sepsis. It is reported that he called out "Anna"—his daughter’s name—before losing consciousness and dying.

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Queen Victoria -

Queen Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign, known as the Victorian Era, was marked by the expansion of the British Empire, industrialization, and social reform.

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Queen Victoria's famous last words -

Queen Victoria died on January 22, 1901, at the age of 81. Her death was attributed to a combination of old age and the effects of a prolonged illness. Her final word was said to be "Bertie," which was understood to refer to Prince Albert, her husband, who had died 40 years earlier.

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Henry VIII -

Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 to 1547. He is best known for his six marriages and his role in the English Reformation, which led to the Church of England's break from the Roman Catholic Church.

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Henry VIII's famous last words -

Henry VIII's health declined significantly over the years, and as his death approached, he was asked whether he wanted to see Archbishop Thomas Cranmer for his last confession. He responded, "I will first take a little sleep, and then, as I feel myself, I will advise upon the matter." He died shortly thereafter.

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Richard III -

Richard III was the King of England from 1483 to 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and is known for his controversial and tumultuous reign.

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Richard III's famous last words -

Richard III died on August 22, 1485, during the Battle of Bosworth Field. His death was quick and brutal and his parting words were reportedly, "I will die king of England. I will not budge a foot. Treason! Treason!"

Sources: (Ranker) (Grunge) (ThoughtCo) (Britannica)

Last words of royals throughout history

The final farewells of some of history's most iconic royals

06/12/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Death

From Marie Antoinette's immortal "let them eat cake" to Queen Victoria's infamous "we are not amused," some of history's most notable royal figures haven't been ones to mince their words. When it came to their final moments, were their last utterances fit for a king or queen? In some cases, their final words were just as memorable as their reigns, offering insight into their psyche. In others, they were more mundane or simply reflective of the frailty of the human experience, reminding us that even royalty faces the same end as everyone else.

So, if you'd like to find out the famous last words of royals before they died, click through this gallery now.