Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What ultimatum did Franz Joseph authorize Austria-Hungary to send to Serbia in July 1914?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Franz Joseph
Emperor of Austria and king of Hungary,Franz Joseph, 1908.
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian government, with the approval of Franz Joseph, drafted a deliberately provocative ultimatum to Serbia to secure a final reckoning with the perceived "Serbian danger."12
Presented to the Serbian government on July 23, 1914, the ultimatum demanded full satisfaction for the assassination, including:13
- The dissolution of anti-Austrian secret societies and the cessation of anti-Austrian propaganda.3
- The dismissal of specific, unnamed Serbian officials at the whim of Austria-Hungary.12
- The participation of Austro-Hungarian officials on Serbian soil in the suppression of hostile organizations and in judicial proceedings against their members.12
Serbia was given 48 hours to respond. Although Serbia accepted most terms, it rejected the demands that compromised its sovereignty, leading Austria-Hungary to sever diplomatic relations and, on July 28, 1914, declare war. This escalation, supported by Germany, served as a primary catalyst for the outbreak of World War I.31245