Leopold I, Margrave of Austria

Leopold the Illustrious, Babenberger Stammbaum, Klosterneuburg Monastery, about 1490

Leopold I (died 994), also Luitpold or Liutpold, called the Illustrious (der Erlauchte), was the first Margrave of Austria from the House of Babenberg.

Leopold was a count in the Bavarian Donaugau shire and first appears in documents from the 960s as Liupo, a faithful follower of Emperor Otto I. His descendance is disputed, an affiliation with the ducal Luitpolding dynasty is probable.

After the insurgence instigated by Duke Henry the Wrangler of Bavaria in 976 against Emperor Otto II, Leopold was appointed as a largely autonomous "Margrave in the East", the core territory of the later Archduchy of Austria, instead of one Burkhard. His residence was probably at Pöchlarn, but maybe already Melk, where his successors resided. The territory, which originally had only coincided with the modern Wachau, was enlarged in the east at least as far as the Wienerwald.

He was killed at Würzburg in Franconia by an arrow shot directed at his cousin Henry of Schweinfurt.

The millennial anniversary of his appointment as margrave was celebrated as "Thousand Years of Austria" in 1976. Celebrations under the same title were held twenty years later at the anniversary of the famous 996 Ostarrîchi document first mentioning the Old German name of Austria.

Even though he is not mentioned in the Babenberger Chronicle written by his descendant Otto of Freising (which only starts with Leopold's grandson Adalbert) he is known as the progenitor of this dynasty. Otto of Freising's claim of ancestry to the Older Franconian Babenbergers, who are remembered for the Babenberger insurgency of the early 10th century, has not been proven, but cannot be completely ruled out.

Marriage

Leopold married Richarda (Richwardis), probably related to Adalbero of Eppenstein, the later Duke of Carinthia. The marriage produced the following children:

• Henry I (died 1018), succeeded his father as Margrave of Austria
• Judith
• Ernest I (died 1015), Duke of Swabia
• Adalbert (985–1055), succeeded his elder brother Henry I as Margrave of Austria
• Poppo (986–1047), Archbishop of Trier
• Kunigunda
• Hemma, married Count Rapoto of Dießen
• Christina

Preceded by Burkhard

Margrave of Austria 976–994

Succeeded by Henry I

References

• Medieval Lands Project: Nobility of Austria.