List of rulers of Austria
From 976 until 1246, the Margraviate of Austria and its successor, the Duchy of Austria, was ruled by the House of Babenberg. At that time, those states were part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1246 until 1918, the duchy and its successor, the Archduchy of Austria, was ruled by the House of Habsburg. Following the defeat and dissolution of Austria-Hungary in World War I, the titles were abolished or fell into abeyance with the establishment of the modern Republic of Austria.
Margraves and Dukes of Austria under the House of Babenberg
The March of Austria, also known as Marcha Orientalis, was first formed in 976 out of the lands that had once been the March of Pannonia in Carolingian times. The oldest attestation dates back to 996, where the written name "ostarrichi" occurs in a document transferring land in present-day Austria to a Bavarian monastery. In 1156, the Privilegium Minus elevated the march to a duchy, independent of the Duchy of Bavaria.| Name | Birth Death | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Notes |
| Leopold I the Illustrious | 10 July 994 Würzburg | 21 July 976 10 July 994 | March of Austria | Richardis of Sualafeldgau nine children | Founder of the Babenbergs. |
| Henry I the Strong | 23 June 1018 | 10 July 994 23 June 1018 | March of Austria | Unmarried | In his reign, the name Ostarrichi appeared for the first time to designate the land he ruled. |
| Adalbert I the Victorious | 26 May 1055 Melk | 23 June 1018 26 May 1055 | March of Austria | Glismod of West-Saxony no children Frozza Orseolo c.1025? two children | Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers. |
| Ernest the Brave | 1027 10 June 1075 | 26 May 1055 10 June 1075 | March of Austria | Adelaide of Eilenburg 1060 three children Swanhilde of Ungarnmark 1072 no children | Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers. |
| Leopold II the Fair | 1050 12 October 1095 Gars am Kamp | 10 June 1075 12 October 1095 | March of Austria | Ida of Formbach-Ratelnberg 1065 eight children | Supported the Gregorian Reforms, and was an active opponent to Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor during the Investiture Controversy. |
| Leopold III the Saint | 1073 Gars am Kamp 15 November 1136 Klosterneuburg | 12 October 1095 15 November 1136 | March of Austria | Maria of Perg no children Agnes of Germany 1106 nineteen children | His second marriage brought the margraviate of Austria closer to the Imperial family, which raised the importance of the Babenbergs. Consequently, more royal rights were granted to Austria. |
| Adalbert II the Pious | 1106 9 November 1137 | 15 November 1136 9 November 1137 | March of Austria | Adelaide of Poland 1128/29 no children Hedwig of Hungary 1132 no children | Usually not counted as margrave, despite being cited as so as early as 1119. Nevertheless, it's possible that he ruled for a year, or at least as claimant to his younger brother Leopold. If he ruled, he left no children. Knighted in 1125 |
| Leopold IV the Generous | 1108 – 18 October 1141 Niederalteich | 9 November 1137 18 October 1141 | March of Austria | Maria of Bohemia 28 September 1138 no children | Also Duke of Bavaria, title given to him after his struggles with the House of Welf. |
| Henry II Jasomirgott | 1107 13 January 1177 Vienna | 18 October 1141 13 January 1177 | March of Austria Duchy of Austria | Gertrude of Süpplingenburg 1 May 1142 one child Theodora Komnene 1148 three children | Succeeded his younger brother in Austria and also as Duke of Bavaria. Moved his capital to Vienna. In 1156, Austria was raised to a Duchy. |
| Leopold V the Virtuous | 1157 31 December 1194 Graz | 13 January 1177 31 December 1194 | Duchy of Austria | Helena of Hungary 1174 four children | Children of Henry II, divided Austria: Leopold V kept the main duchy and annexed the Duchy of Styria to his domain in 1192. |
| Henry I the Elder | 1158 31 August 1223 | 13 January 1177 31 August 1223 | Duchy of Mödling | Richeza of Bohemia 1177 one child | Leopold gave his brother Henry the so-called Duchy of Mödling, which spanned from Liesing to Piesting and Bruck an der Leitha. Henry I and his descendants became mostly interested in the arts. |
| Frederick I the Catholic | 1175 16 April 1198 The Holy Land | 31 December 1194 16 April 1198 | Duchy of Austria | Unmarried | Left no children. |
| Leopold VI the Glorious | 15 October 1176 28 July 1230 San Germano | 16 April 1198 28 July 1230 | Duchy of Austria | Theodora Angelina 1203 seven children | |
| Henry II the Profane | 1208 29 November 1228 | 31 August 1223 29 November 1228 | Duchy of Mödling | Agnes of Thuringia 29 November 1225 Nuremberg one child | Nephew of Henry I, apparently succeeded him as ruler, preceding his cousin. He is referenced as Heinricus iuvenis dux who died in 1227, and Henrici de Medlico. |
| Henry III the Younger | 1182 1236 | 29 November 1228 1236 | Duchy of Mödling | Unmarried | After his death the duchy reverted to his cousin Gertrude, daughter of Henry II. |
| Frederick II the Quarrelsome | 25 April 1211 Wiener Neustadt 15 June 1246 Leitha | 28 July 1230 15 June 1246 | Duchy of Austria | Eudokia Sophia Laskarina Angelina no children Agnes of Merania 1229 no children | His troublesome marriages with no children opened a succession crisis in Austria. |
| Gertrude | 1226 24 April 1288 | 1236 4 October 1250 | Duchy of Mödling | Vladislaus of Bohemia 1246 no children Herman VI, Margrave of Baden 1248 two children Roman Danylovych 1252 one child | Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. |
| Gertrude | 1226 24 April 1288 | 15 June 1246 4 October 1250 1254–1267 | Duchy of Austria | Vladislaus of Bohemia 1246 no children Herman VI, Margrave of Baden 1248 two children Roman Danylovych 1252 one child | Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. |
| Vladislaus of Bohemia | 1227 3 January 1247 Leitha | 15 June 1246 3 January 1247 | Duchy of Austria | Gertrude 1246 no children | Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. |
| Herman VI, Margrave of Baden | c.1226 4 October 1250 | 1248 4 October 1250 | Duchy of Austria | Gertrude 1248 two children | Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. |
| Frederick I, Margrave of Baden | 1249 Alland 29 October 1268 Naples | 1254 1267 | Duchy of Austria | Unmarried | Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. |
| Margaret | 1204 29 October 1266 Krumau am Kamp | 6 May 1252 29 October 1266 | Duchy of Austria | Henry of Germany 29 November 1225 Nuremberg two children Ottokar II of Bohemia 11 February 1252 Hainburg an der Donau no children | Margaret and her husband, future King of Bohemia, invaded Austria in 1252 and were successfully proclaimed Dukes of Austria. After the annulment of their marriage, Margaret retired and Ottokar continued his rule until 1276, when he signed away his claims in Austria in favor of Rudolph of Habsburg. The matter would be settled with his defeat and death at the Battle on the Marchfeld. |
| Premislaus Ottokar II of Bohemia The Iron and Golden King | 1233 Městec Králové 26 August 1278 Dürnkrut | 6 May 1252 1261 | Duchy of Austria | Margaret 11 February 1252 Hainburg an der Donau no children Kunigunda Rostislavna of Halych 25 October 1261 Pressburg three children | Margaret and her husband, future King of Bohemia, invaded Austria in 1252 and were successfully proclaimed Dukes of Austria. After the annulment of their marriage, Margaret retired and Ottokar continued his rule until 1276, when he signed away his claims in Austria in favor of Rudolph of Habsburg. The matter would be settled with his defeat and death at the Battle on the Marchfeld. |
| Premislaus Ottokar II of Bohemia The Iron and Golden King | 1233 Městec Králové 26 August 1278 Dürnkrut | 1261 November 1276 | Duchy of Austria | Margaret 11 February 1252 Hainburg an der Donau no children Kunigunda Rostislavna of Halych 25 October 1261 Pressburg three children | Margaret and her husband, future King of Bohemia, invaded Austria in 1252 and were successfully proclaimed Dukes of Austria. After the annulment of their marriage, Margaret retired and Ottokar continued his rule until 1276, when he signed away his claims in Austria in favor of Rudolph of Habsburg. The matter would be settled with his defeat and death at the Battle on the Marchfeld. |