Leopold III, Margrave of Austria

. Leopold III, called the Holy, the mildness or the Pious (* 1073 in Gars am Kamp or Melk, † November 15, 1136 in Klosterneuburg ) from the House of Babenberg, was from 1095 to 1136, Margrave of the Bavarian Marcha orientalis ( Ostarrîchi ). Since 1485 a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, he became the patron saint of Austria in general and Vienna, Lower Austria and, together with St. Florian, of Upper Austria in particular.

Life

Leopold was the son of Margrave Leopold II and his wife, Ida; Leopold called himself Princeps Terrae, which already points to the consciousness of an independent provincial government. He was also in 1125 as a candidate for the election of a king in conversation, but should with references to his advanced age (50 years) and the number of his sons - have waived - this could lead to problems in succession. Possible reasons are the lack of power base and perhaps also the consideration of the opposing candidate Frederick of Swabia, his stepson. Leopold died on November 15, 1136 as the result of a hunting accident. He is buried in the Abbey of Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg, which owes its existence to him.

Marriages and descendants

Leopold's family policy contributed significantly to the expansion of the acquis and the social appreciation of his house.

He married his first wife, before 1103/1104 with Adelheid Perg / Machland, a family of high free the Lords of Perg and Machland in Upper Austria Machland, thereby north of the Danube through property acquisition and advocacies much his influence in today's Lower and Upper Austria could increase. Adelaide was the daughter of Walchun I. Perg / Machland, ( c * 1050, † 1114. ) And Adelheid († 1090; widow Count Henry II of Formbach and possibly Countess of Sulzbach ).

Leopold married in 1106 his second wife Agnes of Waiblingen (* 1074, † September 24, 1143 ), a daughter of the Roman Emperor Henry IV ( 1084-1105 ) and his wife Bertha of Turin ( House of Savoy ). Agnes was the widow of Frederick I of Hohenstaufen, Duke of Swabia († April 6, 1105 ). Through this Versippung with the Salians succeeded Leopold to rise in the first row of the imperial aristocracy, as he now not only brother of the emperor Henry V, but also step-father of the Duke of Swabia Frederick II and the Duke of the East Franks and later German King Konrad III. was of Hohenstaufen. In addition, important royal rights were transferred to him in his Margraviate. This social advancement he owes a - controversial - tactical maneuver by passed by before the decisive battle between Emperor Henry IV and his son, the future King Henry V., to the latter. The Battle of the Rain River took place in connection with the Investiture Controversy; Leopold and Henry V represented thereby, the pope innocent party.

From first marriage:

• Adalbert " the Devout " of Austria, (* c. 1098, † 1138 )

He was bailiff of the abbey of Klosterneuburg and all the monasteries that were under the bailiwick of his father. Although he was the eldest son and his education as his father's deputy, the logical successor, he was after the death of Margrave Leopold III. " The saints" passed over in the succession in favor of a son of the emperor's daughter Agnes of Waiblingen. He inherited from his mother, however, numerous possessions in Mödling and Klosterneuburg, as well as in the Vienna Woods. Adalbert was buried in Klosterneuburg. A stained glass window with the inscription: "Here is buried the firstborn son of St. Adalbert named Leopold, Duke of Austria, first steward of the monastery " is reminiscent of him.

From the second marriage came 17 children, including:

• Henry II Jasomirgott, 1st Duke of Austria ( 1156-1177 ), Duke of Bavaria ( 1143-1156 ), Margrave of Austria ( 1141-1156 ), Count Palatine of the Rhine ( 1140-1141 ), ( * c. 1107 † January 13, 1177 )

• Leopold IV Duke of Bavaria (1139-1141), Margrave of Austria (1136-1141), (* 1108, † October 18, 1141 )

• Otto of Austria, known as Otto of Freising, Bishop of Freising (1138-1158); 1138 Abbot of the Cistercian abbey in primary Mori Moon ( in Champagne ), the famous historian, (* 15:12. C. 1109 † September 22, 1158 )
• Jutta of Austria

• Agnes of Austria ( * 1111, † 25 January 1157 )

• Judith of Austria, (* c. 1115 † after 1178 )

• Konrad of Austria, Archbishop Konrad of Salzburg (1164-1168), bishop of Passau (1148-1164), (* 1120, † September 28, 1168 )
• Gertrude of Austria, (* c. 1120, † April 8, 1150 )

• Elisabeth of Austria, (* c. 1123, † May 20 1143 )

• Bertha of Austria, (* c. 1124 † 1160 )

Work and memory

Reminds is its mainly for the development of land that goes with his work as founder monastery associated. His most important foundation is Klosterneuburg, founded in 1108. According to legend, it was the point at which it a Marian apparition the veil of his wife Agnes showed had this years earlier lost on the hunt. Klosterneuburg was expanded in the following years to the residence. Other monasteries were foundations Stift Heiligenkreuz and Klein- Mariazell. These foundations were of evangelization, education, and the development of the still heavily wooded area.

The cities were funded under it, next to Klosterneuburg and Vienna about Krems, which got a mint. The embossed in Krems Krems penny earned on the money market quite important.

In his time, the first German literary evidence from the Austrian region, notably by Heinrich von Melk and Ava come.

Leopoldi tag

On 6 January 1485, Leopold was canonized by Pope Innocent VIII, which was in the interests of the Habsburgs. Even before Innocent VIII Innocent VI had. and Sixtus IV also initiated Saints Leopold, however, were set. Leopold's feast day is November 15. On the occasion of the canonization and then conducted Translation celebration there was in Klosterneuburg secular celebrations such as tournaments, banquets and dances. These festivities are still celebrated on the Solemnity Leopoldi, every November 15. Popularly known as the celebration of the Fasselrutschen is known. It is glided down the Tausendeimerberg barrel in the binder censure of the pen. The fair involved is visited by numerous people from many parts of Vienna and Lower Austria. In Vienna and Lower Austria is no school on this day.

1663 Emperor Leopold I of the Holy in the reign of his namesake. Leopold in place of hl. Koloman raised to the patron saint of Austria. In Austria Leopold churches were dedicated in his name.

After Leopold named Awards

Since the 500th anniversary of his canonization in 1985, the Stift Klosterneuburg gives the Leopold Cross as an award to persons who have rendered great service to the pin.

Since 2008, the Stift Klosterneuburg distinguished artists who deal with a humanitarian issue, with the St. Leopold Peace Prize.