Leopold III, Margrave of Austria

Leopold III (

Leopold called himself "Princeps Terræ", a reflection of his sense of territorial independence. He was considered a candidate in the election of the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire in 1125, but declined this honour.

He is mainly remembered for the development of the country and, in particular, the founding of several monasteries. His most important foundation is

The writings of Henry of Melk and Ava of Göttweig, which are the first literary texts from Austria, date back to Leopold's time.

He is buried in the Klosterneuburg Monastery, which he founded. His skull is kept in an embroidered reliquary, which leaves the forehead exposed; it also wears an archducal hat.

In 1663, under the rule of his namesake Emperor Leopold I, he was declared patron saint of Austria instead of Coloman of Stockerau.

The brothers Joseph and Michael Haydn, each of whom sang in the choir of St. Stephen's Cathedral, both sang in that capacity at Klosterneuburg on this day. Joseph Haydn later became the more famous composer of the two. Michael Haydn later (in 1805) wrote a mass in honour of Leopold, the Missa sub titulo Sancti Leopoldi.

Since the death of Emperor Leopold I, the King's Feast is celebrated in Belgium on Leopold's feast day.

Children

His first marriage, possibly to a lady of the von Perg family, was childless.

By his second wife,

• Adalbert
• Henry II Jasomirgott (1107–1177)^[3]
• Leopold IV (c. 1108 – 1141)^[3]
• Berta, m. Henry III, Burgrave of Regensburg
• Agnes (c. 1108/13 – c. 1160/63), m. Władysław II of Poland^[3]
• Ernst
• Uta, m. Luitpold I, Count of Plain
• Frederick I Barbarossa
• Bishop of Passau and Archbishop of Salzburg^[3]
• Elisabeth, m. Hermann II of Winzenburg
• William V of Montferrat^[3]
• Gertrude, m. Duke (later King) Vladislaus II of Bohemia^[3]

According to the Continuation of the Chronicles of Klosterneuburg, there may have been up to seven others (possibly from multiple births) stillborn or who died in infancy.

In 2013, documentation regarding the results of DNA testing of the remains of the family buried in Klosterneuburg Abbey strongly favor that Adalbert was the son of Leopold and Agnes.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Leopold III seal
• 
  Stained glass, Gaaden, Lower Austria
• 
  Österreichische Schule, eighteenth century
• 
  Saint Leopold Altar,

  Stephansdom
• 
  Saint Leopold's skull relic, Klosterneuburg Monastery

See also

• List of rulers of Austria

References

Sources

• Beller, Steven (2007). A Concise History of Austria. New York: Cambridge University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-521-47886-1
  .
• Brooke, Z. N. (1938). A History of Europe: From 911 to 1198. London: Methuen & Company Ltd.
  ISBN 978-1-4437-4070-8
  .
• Dopsch, Heinz (1999). Österreichische Geschichte 1122-1278. Vienna: Ueberreuter.
  ISBN 978-3-8000-3973-9
  .
• Freed, John (2016). Frederick Barbarossa: The Prince and the Myth. Yale University Press.
• Lechner, Karl (1976). Die Babenberger: Markgrafen und Herzoge von Österreich 976–1246. Vienna: Böhlau.
  ISBN 978-3-205-08508-9
  .
• Leeper, Alexander W. (1941). History of Medieval Austria. London: Oxford University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-404-15347-2
  .
• 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 978-3-222-12334-4
  .
• Rickett, Richard (1985). A Brief Survey of Austrian History. Vienna: Prachner.
  ISBN 978-3-85367-001-9
  .
• Wegener, Wilhelm (1965). Genealogischen Tafeln zur mitteleuropäischen Geschichte. Vienna: Verlag Degener.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leopold III, Margrave of Austria.

• Leopold III., Heiliger, Babenberger-Markgraf at AEIOU
• Leopold at Patron Saints Index

Leopold III, Margrave of Austria House of Babenberg Born: 1073 Died: 1136
Preceded by Leopold II	Margrave of Austria 1095–1136	Succeeded by Leopold IV