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.

Dukes and Archdukes of Austria under the House of Habsburg

Count Rudolf of Habsburg, elected as king of Germany, was able during 1276–1278 to decisively defeat his main rival, the Bohemian king Ottokar II, and to regain his Austrian domains back for the Empire. By his imperial authority, Rudolf later invested his sons Albrecht and Rudolf with the duchies of Austria and Styria, thereby securing them for the House of Habsburg. Austria remained under Habsburg rule for more than 600 years, forming the core of the Habsburg monarchy and the present-day country of Austria.
The most important Austrian rulers until the Victory at Vienna in 1683 are described in the book Symmetria iuridico Austriaca.

Possessions (and partitions) of Austria under Habsburg domain

Table of rulers

In 1806 the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved.

Emperors of Austria (1804–1918)

House of Habsburg-Lorraine

Following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Francis created his own Austrian Empire.

Ruler	Birth Death	Reign	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Francis I	12 February 1768 Florence 2 March 1835 Vienna	11 August 1804 2 March 1835	Austrian Empire	Elisabeth of Württemberg 6 January 1788 Vienna one child Maria Theresa of [Naples and Sicily] 15 September 1790 Vienna 12 children Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este 6 January 1808 Vienna no children Caroline Augusta of Bavaria 29 October 1816 Vienna no children
Ferdinand I the Benevolent	19 April 1793 Vienna 29 June 1875 Prague	2 March 1835 2 December 1848	Austrian Empire	Maria Anna of Savoy 12 February 1831 Turin no children	Abdicated due to the Revolutions of 1848.
Francis Joseph	18 August 1830 Florence 21 November 1916 Vienna	2 December 1848 21 November 1916	Austrian Empire Cisleithania	Elisabeth of Bavaria 24 April 1854 Vienna four children	Nephew of Ferdinand I, and grandson of Francis I. The Empire became a dual monarchy following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, forming Austria-Hungary.
Charles	17 August 1887 Persenbeug-Gottsdorf 1 April 1922 Funchal	21 November 1916 12 November 1918	Cisleithania	Zita of Bourbon-Parma 21 October 1911 Schwarzau am Steinfeld eight children	Grand-nephew of Francis Joseph I, and great-great-grandson of Francis I.

Following the defeat in World War I, Austria-Hungary was dissolved in 1918.

Works cited

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