Leopold (German: Luitpold, c. 1108 – 18 October 1141), known as Leopold the Generous (German: Luitpold der Freigiebige), was margrave of Austria (appearing in lists as Leopold IV) from 1136, and duke of Bavaria from 1139 until his death in 1141.[1]
Leopold IV | |
|---|---|
| Margrave of Austria | |
 Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Lower Austria, c. 1290 | |
| Duke, Margrave | 1139–1141, 1136–1141 |
| Predecessor | Leopold III |
| Successor | Henry II |
| Born | 1108 |
| Died | 18 October 1141 Niederaltaich Abbey, Bavaria |
| Buried | Heiligenkreuz Abbey |
| Family | House of Babenberg |
| Spouse | Maria of Bohemia |
| Father | Leopold III |
| Mother | Agnes of Germany |
Biography
editHe was one of the younger sons of Margrave Leopold III, the Holy. It is not known why he was originally preferred to his brothers Adalbert and Henry Jasomirgott.
Through his mother Agnes, he was related to the Hohenstaufen. In the course of their struggle against the competing Welfen family, he was given the formerly Welfish Bavaria as a fief by Emperor Conrad III. He managed to maintain his position there, as his brother Otto was Bishop of Freising there.
The most important measure of his short reign was the Exchange of Mautern entered into with the Bishop of Passau in 1137. The bishop was given the St. Peter's Church in Vienna, while the Margrave received extended stretches of land from the bishop outside the city walls, with the notable exception of the territory where a new church was to be built, which was to become St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Leopold died unexpectedly at Niederaltaich Abbey in Bavaria and was succeeded by his brother Henry.
See also
editReferences
edit- Citations
- ^ Lingelbach 1913, pp. 90–91.
- Bibliography
- Beller, Steven (2007). A Concise History of Austria. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521478861.
- Brooke, Z. N. (1938). A History of Europe: From 911 to 1198. London: Methuen & Company Ltd. ISBN 978-1443740708.
- Dopsch, Heinz (1999). Österreichische Geschichte 1122-1278. Vienna: Ueberreuter. ISBN 3-8000-3973-7.
- Lechner, Karl (1976). Die Babenberger: Markgrafen und Herzoge von Österreich 976–1246. Vienna: Böhlau. ISBN 978-3205085089.
- Leeper, Alexander W. (1941). History of Medieval Austria. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0404153472.
- Lingelbach, William E. (1913). The History of Nations: Austria-Hungary. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company. ASIN B000L3E368.
- Pohl, Walter (1995). Die Welt der Babenberger. Graz: Verlag Styria. ISBN 978-3222123344.
- Rickett, Richard (1985). A Brief Survey of Austrian History. Vienna: Prachner. ISBN 978-3853670019.
- Wegener, Wilhelm (1965). Genealogischen Tafeln zur mitteleuropäischen Geschichte. Vienna: Verlag Degener.