Leopold IV, Duke of Austria

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Leopold IV, Duke of Austria
Leopold IV of Austria by Anton Boys
Born1371
Died(1411-06-03)3 June 1411
Vienna
BuriedDucal Crypt in the Stephansdom in Vienna
Noble familyHouse of Habsburg
Spouse(s)Catherine of Burgundy
FatherLeopold III, Duke of Austria
MotherViridis Visconti
Seal of Leopold IV of Austria

Leopold IV of Austria (1371 – June 3, 1411), Duke of Further Austria, was an Austrian Habsburg Duke of the Leopoldinian Line, known as "the Fat".[1][2]

Biography[edit]

He was the second son of Leopold III. His eldest brother Duke William of Inner Austria took him as his effective co-ruler, putting him in particular charge of Further Austria, which also meant ancestral Habsburg lands in Swiss Aargau etc. Leopold was to face Swiss opposition to Austrian administration.

From 1391 onwards, he was the effective ruler of Further Austria, and from 1396 to 1406 he was ruler in Tyrol too.

He married Catherine de Valois of Burgundy, daughter of Philip II, Duke of Burgundy, in 1393. She died in 1425, and they had no surviving children.

His younger brothers Ernest the Iron and Frederick were, for the time being, left to grow up. They were initiated with ducal positions in 1402. In 1406 their eldest brother Duke William died without leaving heirs, and Leopold became the next head of their family. Leopold had no sons either. The younger brothers made an agreement how to divide the patrimony in the future: Ernest was to receive Inner Austria and Frederick Further Austria, including Tyrol. Ernest took the reins in Styria, etc. Frederick was only barely in his twenties, but was put in charge in Tyrol. Leopold was left with responsibility of the Further Austrian territories, together with the position of head of the family.

In 1406, Leopold took over the guardianship of their young cousin Albert V, which resulted in conflicts with his brother Ernest.

Leopold died in Vienna and was buried in the Ducal Crypt in the city's cathedral.

Ancestors[edit]

Male-line family tree[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Duggan, Anne J. (30 September 2008). Queens and Queenship in Medieval Europe: Proceedings of a Conference Held at King's College London, April 1995. Boydell Press. p. 103. ISBN 9780851158815. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. ^ Pippal, Martina (2001). A Short History of Art in Vienna. C.H.Beck. p. 117. ISBN 9783406467899. Retrieved 2 March 2018.

External links[edit]

Leopold IV, Duke of Austria
Born: 1371 Died: 3 June 1411
Preceded by Duke of Further Austria
1386–1411
jointly with
William until 1406
Succeeded by