The cataclysmic aftershocks of that Sarajevo summer day reverberated through the generations of innumerable families, including Evelyn’s, leaving her with a profound sense of her family’s place in the European historical tapestry.

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir-apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne and Evelyn’s great-great-great-grandfather) and his wife Sophie were ruthlessly shot dead by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand gang – a group of Serbian nationalists bent on freeing Serbia from the grip of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Prompted by political conflicts between factions within Serbia and Austria-Hungary, that shot was the spark that ignited World War I.

Evelyn remembered the stories that had been passed from generation to generation, and most recently from her mother, Helene, to her …

“We used to be powerful, you know. We had everything we could want — land, money and influence. Your great-great-great-grandfather was next in line for the throne, you know. But then, everything changed, starting with a gunshot. That was the sound that started it all. The sound that took your great-great-great-grandfather from us, and our power along with him. It was a conspiracy, you see. A plot by our enemies to take us down.”

As a young girl listening to her mother recount the multi-faceted history of family tragedy, Evelyn remembers not understanding who the “enemies” were.

“Oh, there were many,” she remembered her mother saying. “Those who were jealous of our power, those who wanted to divide us and conquer us. They spread lies about us, made us look like the bad guys. And in the end, they succeeded. We were exiled from our own country, forced to flee and scatter across Europe. And what did we do to deserve this? Nothing.”

Evelyn remembered commenting to her mother that what happened didn’t sound fair.

“No, it’s not,” a younger Helene said to her impressionable daughter. “But that’s the way the world works sometimes. The strong prey on the weak, and justice is rarely served. But we will not forget who we are, and where we came from. We will rebuild our family, and we will regain our power. One day, the world will know the truth, and we will have our revenge.”

Evelyn’s desire to more fully understand these tragic turns and the effect they had on her ancestors – and by extension, her – motivated her interest in history from a young age. Her research began when she was a teen and continued through to the present day.

With her head still swirling from her life-changing experience just hours ago, Evelyn laid down on her bed to relieve the mental exhaustion and overload she was experiencing. But that was all but impossible, as her mind continued to churn and swirl. She recalled the intricate details of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had existed from 1867 to 1918 in Central Europe. This dual monarchy aimed to balance political power and national interests between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. As she delved deeper into her family’s past, she always found herself immersed in the complex historical context that surrounded the formation of this unique political entity.

She learned that the Austria-Hungary monarchy’s origins lay in the Habsburg Dynasty, which had ruled various European territories for centuries. The Habsburgs first gained prominence in the Holy Roman Empire and eventually became Austria’s ruling house. In 1526, they inherited the Kingdom of Hungary, a nation weakened by the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of its central territories. From then on, the Habsburgs ruled both Austria and Hungary, with the latter maintaining a degree of autonomy.

At that time, the Ottoman Empire was a vast and powerful entity. It had encompassed a wide range of territories, and Evelyn had been fascinated by its reach and impact on history.

She remembered discovering that the core of the Ottoman Empire was centered around most of the present-day Turkey. The empire also controlled a large portion of southeastern Europe, including the Balkan Peninsula with present-day Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and parts of Croatia and Romania.

Her research had also shown that the empire extended into western Asia, covering present-day Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, and parts of Saudi Arabia and Syria. She had been intrigued to learn that the Ottomans even controlled territories in northern Africa, such as present-day Egypt, Libya, and parts of Algeria, Sudan and Tunisia.

Evelyn had been particularly captivated by the fact that the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean was also under Ottoman control at that time. She had marveled at the sheer scale and complexity of this empire and the role it played in the historical context of her family’s lineage.

By the 19th century, the Austrian Empire faced numerous challenges, including rising nationalism and increased demands for political reform. The Empire’s diverse population comprised various ethnic groups seeking more significant autonomy and representation. The 1848 Revolutions further exacerbated these issues, ushering in a period of instability and reform.

Evelyn discovered that in 1867, Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I – her great-great-great-granduncle – and the Hungarian nobility reached an agreement called the Ausgleich, or the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. This established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, with two separate governments, parliaments and administrations, united under a single monarch who held the titles of Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. This arrangement sought to appease the Hungarians while preserving the power and integrity of the Habsburg Dynasty.

The Austro-Hungarian monarchy maintained power through a combination of diplomacy, military power, economic development, and bureaucratic and administrative control. The empire pursued careful and pragmatic foreign policies, sought alliances and maintained good relations with other European powers. This diplomacy helped the empire navigate European politics and avoid potential conflicts.

Austria-Hungary also boasted a sizable and modernized military force, deterring potential aggressors and ensuring internal order. This military strength granted the empire a sense of security and stability. Furthermore, the empire experienced significant industrialization and economic growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing resources for the military, infrastructure projects, and improving living standards for its population.

Evelyn also learned that the Habsburgs maintained a centralized bureaucracy, allowing them to exert control over their vast and diverse territories, which included present-day Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and portions of Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Italy, Montenegro and Serbia. The Habsburgs employed a divide-and-rule policy, pitting different ethnic groups against each other to maintain a balance of power and prevent any one group from gaining too much influence. Evelyn regretted that aspect of her family history – that they chose division rather than unification of thought and objectives.

Evelyn’s research had revealed to her the significant political issues that plagued the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including its tense relationship with Serbia, a Slavic nation in the Balkans. Serbia’s aspiration to unite all South Slavs under its rule threatened Austria-Hungary’s territorial integrity, causing conflicts and tensions between the two nations and with Russia.

As she delved deeper into the cultural context of the time, Evelyn discovered that Austria, particularly Vienna, was experiencing a cultural renaissance. Renowned artists, writers, and intellectuals – including Sigmund Freud – gathered in the city, contributing to a flourishing cultural scene. Yet, social unrest persisted, fueled by the empire’s various ethnic groups demanding greater autonomy and representation.

Evelyn learned that despite the empire’s strong military presence, it faced competition from neighboring countries. Austria-Hungary’s alliance with Germany, known as the Central Powers, aimed to maintain internal stability and secure borders. However, the empire’s rivalry with Serbia, Russia and other Balkan countries led to an arms race and a precarious balance of power in the region.

“Your great-great-great-grandfather was already making important decisions for the empire, even before he became emperor,” Evelyn remembered her mother telling her about Franz Ferdinand. “He was a powerful force behind the scenes.”

But Evelyn’s historical research revealed that, in the months and weeks prior to his death, Archduke Ferdinand’s position had been largely symbolic. Emperor Franz Joseph I, Franz Ferdinand’s uncle, still held power, but Franz Ferdinand himself was preparing for his future role as Emperor.

Helene had repeatedly told Evelyn that Franz Ferdinand had strong opinions on political and military matters and advocated for a more conciliatory approach to the empire’s various ethnic groups. But Evelyn’s research had showed conflicting views on her great-great-great-grandfather’s political leanings.

Some historians emphasized his liberalism compared to the emperor, especially his advocacy of greater autonomy for ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian empire, while others cited his Catholic conservatism and absolutist belief in Austro-Hungarian dynastic rule.

Over the years, as Evelyn recalled what her research revealed, she became increasingly aware of the discrepancies between the stories passed down through her family and the accounts provided by historians. She understood that her family’s perspective on Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s political beliefs and motivations could be influenced by personal biases, while historians relied on a variety of sources, including primary documents, to form their conclusions.

To gain a better understanding of the source of these conflicting accounts, Evelyn had responded by delving deeper into the political landscape of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the turn of the 20th century. She had learned that the empire was a complex tapestry of ethnicities, languages and traditions, and that Franz Ferdinand’s political ideology was often viewed through the lens of these myriad influences. As a result, different observers might have had varying interpretations of his beliefs and actions, leading to the discrepancies between the family’s account and those of historians.

As she compared the family’s stories with historical accounts, Evelyn began to see that her great-great-great-grandfather was a multifaceted figure who, like many historical figures, had both liberal and conservative tendencies. His Catholic conservatism and belief in the Habsburg dynasty’s divine right to rule might have been tempered by his desire for greater autonomy for the empire’s various ethnic groups, a more modern and liberal viewpoint for the time.

Evelyn had also sought out primary documents, such as letters and diaries written by Franz Ferdinand himself, which she discovered revealed a more nuanced view of the Archduke’s political beliefs, one that didn’t easily fit into the binary categories of liberal or conservative. It became clear to her that both her family’s account and the historians’ perspectives held elements of truth, but neither could fully capture the complexity of the man at the heart of the story.

As Evelyn reconciled the differing accounts, she recognized the importance of examining her family’s history through a critical lens, acknowledging that even her own family’s recollections could be colored by their personal experiences and emotions. But balancing that with the repetitive family narratives of the painful, shameful and improper ways their ancestors were treated proved very challenging, even for someone as studious as Evelyn.

She also realized there were conflicts between her mother and historians on what led Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, to be in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, the day of the murder. Historians called it an assassination because it was a political figure who was killed. Family members called it what it really was, a cold-blooded murder.

According to Helene, the family had always believed that the couple’s decision to visit Sarajevo was driven by love and a desire to celebrate their wedding anniversary together, rather than an attempt to demonstrate the empire’s authority.

“It was a trip based on love, not politics,” Evelyn’s mother had told her more than once.

But Evelyn’s research revealed an official inspection of the Austro-Hungarian military forces stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the reason for the ill-fated visit.

So many conflicting stories, Evelyn thought. As an historian, she firmly believed in the process people in her line of work go through to verify facts. But then again, who would know these things better than people in the direct blood line?

Regardless of the motivations behind the visit, the tragic outcome remained the same. On that fateful day, Franz Ferdinand and Sophie were assassinated by Black Hand member Gavrilo Princip.

Following the murder, “the empire’s leaders tried to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, but Serbia’s refusal to cooperate forced their hand,” Evelyn remembered her father telling her when she was a young girl. But her historical research showed that the Austro-Hungarian government, backed by Germany, pursued retribution against Serbia.

They held the belief that Serbian nationalists were either directly responsible for the murder or had failed to suppress the groups involved in the crime. In fact, Black Hand WAS a secret nationalist organization founded in Serbia in 1911. Its primary goal was the unification of all South Slav territories, primarily those under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, into a single Greater Serbia or Yugoslavia. The group employed terrorist tactics, including assassinations and bombings, to advance its nationalist cause.

Evelyn remembered reading that on July 23, 1914, about three weeks after the murder, Evelyn felt a mixture of sorrow and anger as she imagined the scene of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. The horror of losing her great-great-grandfather in such a violent manner weighed heavily on her heart, and she couldn’t help but wonder how different her family’s fate might have been if the tragedy had never occurred. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum, which included a list of demands. These demands encompassed suppressing anti-Austrian propaganda, dissolving nationalist organizations, removing Serbian officials involved in anti-Austrian activities, and permitting Austro-Hungarian participation in investigating and prosecuting those connected to the assassination plot.

As her research had shown, Serbia, supported by its ally Russia, agreed to most of the demands but resisted allowing Austrian officials to partake in the investigation on Serbian territory. This refusal was deemed unacceptable by the Austro-Hungarian government, and consequently, they declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.

The thought of the ultimatum and the subsequent declaration of war filled Evelyn with a sense of foreboding. She couldn’t help but feel that her ancestors had been backed into a corner, forced to make decisions that would lead to immeasurable suffering and loss.

The emotional detachment Evelyn had always tried to maintain when conducting research, with the goal of making sure information was interpreted accurately, crumbled momentarily as she tried to imagine the emotions her ancestors must have felt in that dire situation. The weight of their choices and the consequences of those decisions bore down on her.

She knew that this declaration of war triggered a chain reaction of events. The intricate web of alliances and mutual defense pacts among European powers caused a swift escalation of the conflict, ultimately leading to World War I.

Evelyn’s research revealed that Austria-Hungary faced numerous military struggles throughout the war. Austria-Hungary faced several military setbacks during the war, weakening the empire’s already fragile political structure and intensifying internal tensions among its various ethnic groups, who increasingly sought autonomy or independence.

Evelyn’s heart ached as she envisioned the devastating losses her ancestors and their empire had suffered during battles they lost. The setbacks and mounting tensions among the various ethnic groups within the empire made her feel a deep sense of melancholy, as she grasped the enormity of the challenges her ancestors had faced.

The war strained the economies of Austria-Hungary, as well as other European countries, leading to food shortages, declining morale and anti-war sentiment among the populations.

Evelyn couldn’t help but sympathize with the soldiers and civilians who had lived through the horrors of war. She thought of her ancestors who had been part of the empire’s administration, struggling to hold the crumbling state together. She felt a growing sense of personal responsibility, a need to understand and honor their sacrifices.

As the war continued, the situation within Austria-Hungary grew increasingly dire. The empire grappled with economic difficulties, food shortages, and social unrest. In October 1918, several of the empire’s constituent nationalities declared their independence, including Czechoslovakia, the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs, and later Hungary.

On November 11, 1918, the same day the armistice ending World War I was signed, Emperor Charles I of Austria (Karl I) – Evelyn’s great-great-granduncle, who replaced Franz Joseph I when he died in 1916 – issued a proclamation. He relinquished his participation in the administration of the Austrian half of the empire but did not formally abdicate the throne.

However, on November 12, 1918, the newly formed Republic of German-Austria declared itself a republic, effectively ending Habsburg rule in Austria. In Hungary, a similar process unfolded, and the Hungarian monarchy was dissolved, replaced by a short-lived republic before the rise of a communist government.

As Evelyn considered the momentous events surrounding the armistice and the dissolution of the monarchy, she felt a pang of loss for her family’s lost legacy. The thought of her great-great-granduncle relinquishing his power and the effective end of the Habsburg rule was both disheartening and humbling, as she came to terms with the impermanence of power and the lasting consequences of war.

As Evelyn considered the stories she’d heard from her parents about her great-great-granduncle’s efforts to bring about change, she began to see him not just as a historical figure but as a member of her own family. A mix of pride and sorrow welled up in her chest as she thought of how his life had been tragically cut short, and how the world might have been different had he been given the chance to lead.

In 1919, two treaties were signed, formally ending the war for Austria and Hungary, respectively. The treaties imposed harsh terms on Austria and Hungary, including the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the loss of territories to the Allies.

Evelyn felt a wave of frustration and sadness as she reflected on the harsh terms imposed on her ancestral homeland by the treaties, and she mourned the end of an era and the fragmentation of a once-great empire.

As she traced the lines of her family tree in her mind, Evelyn realized that maintaining the detached stance of a historian was becoming more and more difficult. The stories of her ancestors felt too close, too personal. They were no longer just names on paper, but real people who had lived, loved and lost. Their struggles, their triumphs, and their tragedies were now a part of her, too.

In the face of these political changes and the prevailing anti-monarchical sentiment, Charles I chose to go into exile voluntarily, as his position was untenable, and he had lost the support of both the military and the general population. While there wasn’t a specific edict that forced him into exile, his departure was a pragmatic decision to avoid further unrest and potential violence, Evelyn’s mother had told her.

In 1921, Charles I made two unsuccessful attempts to regain the Hungarian throne, which led to his arrest and eventual exile to the Portuguese island of Madeira. Charles I died in 1922, and with his death, the Habsburg dynasty’s rule in Austria-Hungary came to a definitive end.

The device Evelyn had found just hours ago seemed to hold the key to unlocking the door to the truth of past, and all its unfairness and contradictions. As she contemplated using it, a wave of scholarly responsibility washed over her. She knew it wasn’t to be considered lightly. She was aware of time-travel stories, but she had always considered them fictional. She had no historical benchmark on which to weigh her options.

Evelyn sat quietly, her thoughts swirling around the lessons she had learned from her family’s history and the powerful stories that had been passed down through generations. The resilience, strength and wisdom of her ancestors inspired her, and she knew that whatever decision she made, she would need to honor their memory and the legacy they had left behind.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Evelyn took a quick peek at the canvas bag laying unkempt on her desk chair.  It was time to continue her journey of discovery and prepare for the incredible adventure that may lay ahead. The possibility of time travel had opened a world of opportunities, and Evelyn was determined to explore them all, ensuring she made the right choices for her family and her ancestors.

Upon learning the circumstances of her family’s fall from grace and royal power years ago, Evelyn had continuously analyzed what she had learned. Clearly, as she believed in her youth, what happened to her family was not fair. Her great-great-grandfather had intended to bring a conciliatory approach to relations with neighboring nation-states and ethnic groups within the Empire, according to her mother. Then some know-nothing idiot who had fallen under the spell of a terroristic nationalist group killed the very man whose intent as Emperor-apparent was to try to bridge the gaps between the Kingdom and groups which had formed.

Not only was it not fair, the murder and its aftermath were a tragedy for her family and all of Europe. During the evening in which she seemed lost in time while recounting her meticulously gathered family history, she thought over and over and over again:

“It doesn’t have to be this way.”