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.
NameBirth
Death
ReignRuling partConsortNotes
Leopold I the Illustrious

10 July 994
Würzburg
21 July 976
10 July 994
March of AustriaRichardis of Sualafeldgau
nine children
Founder of the Babenbergs.
Henry I the Strong

23 June 1018
10 July 994
23 June 1018
March of AustriaUnmarriedIn 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 AustriaGlismod of West-Saxony
no children

Frozza Orseolo
c.1025?
two children
Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers.
Ernest the Brave1027

10 June 1075
26 May 1055
10 June 1075
March of AustriaAdelaide of Eilenburg
1060
three children

Swanhilde of Ungarnmark
1072
no children
Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers.
Leopold II the Fair1050

12 October 1095
Gars am Kamp
10 June 1075
12 October 1095
March of AustriaIda 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 Saint1073
Gars am Kamp

15 November 1136
Klosterneuburg
12 October 1095
15 November 1136
March of AustriaMaria 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 Pious1106

9 November 1137
15 November 1136
9 November 1137
March of AustriaAdelaide 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 Generous1108
– 18 October 1141
Niederalteich
9 November 1137
18 October 1141
March of AustriaMaria 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 Jasomirgott1107

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 Virtuous1157

31 December 1194
Graz
13 January 1177
31 December 1194
Duchy of AustriaHelena 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 Elder1158

31 August 1223
13 January 1177
31 August 1223
Duchy of MödlingRicheza 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 Catholic1175

16 April 1198
The Holy Land
31 December 1194
16 April 1198
Duchy of AustriaUnmarriedLeft no children.
Leopold VI the Glorious15 October 1176

28 July 1230
San Germano
16 April 1198
28 July 1230
Duchy of AustriaTheodora Angelina
1203
seven children
Henry II the Profane1208

29 November 1228
31 August 1223
29 November 1228
Duchy of MödlingAgnes 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 Younger1182

1236
29 November 1228
1236
Duchy of MödlingUnmarriedAfter his death the duchy reverted to his cousin Gertrude, daughter of Henry II.
Frederick II the Quarrelsome25 April 1211
Wiener Neustadt

15 June 1246
Leitha
28 July 1230
15 June 1246
Duchy of AustriaEudokia Sophia Laskarina Angelina
no children

Agnes of Merania
1229
no children
His troublesome marriages with no children opened a succession crisis in Austria.
Gertrude1226

24 April 1288
1236
4 October 1250
Duchy of MödlingVladislaus 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.
Gertrude1226

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 Bohemia1227

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 Badenc.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 Baden1249
Alland

29 October 1268
Naples
1254
1267
Duchy of Austria
UnmarriedHeiress 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.
Margaret1204

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 King1233
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 King1233
Městec Králové

26 August 1278
Dürnkrut
1261
November 1276
Duchy of AustriaMargaret
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.