Leopold III (, , 1073 – 15 November 1136), known as Leopold the Good, was the Margrave of Austria from 1095 to his death in 1136. He was a member of the House of Babenberg. He was canonized on 6 January 1485 and became the patron saint of Austria, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Vienna. His feast day is 15 November.

Biography

Leopold was born at Babenberg castle in Gars am Kamp, the son of Margrave Leopold II and Ida of Formbach-Ratelnberg. The Babenbergs had come to Austria from Bavaria where the family had risen to prominence in the 10th century. He grew up in the diocese of Passau under the influence of the reformer bishop Altmann of Passau.

In 1095, Leopold succeeded his father as margrave of Austria at the age of 22. He married twice. His first wife, who died in 1105, may have been one of the von Perg family. The following year he married Agnes, the widowed sister of Emperor Henry V whom he had supported against her father Henry IV. This connection to the Salians raised the importance of the House of Babenberg, to which important royal rights over the margraviate of Austria were granted. Also, Agnes had influential connections through her previous marriage to Frederick of Hohenstaufen,

<gallery>

File:Leopold III, Margrave of Austria.jpg|Leopold III seal

File:Saint Leopold III Margrave of Austria (Church at Gaaden).jpg|Stained glass, Gaaden, Lower Austria

File:Hl Leopold (Österreich 18 Jh).jpg|Österreichische Schule, eighteenth century

File:Wien.Stephansdom60.jpg|Saint Leopold Altar, Stephansdom

File:Schaedelreliquie des heiligen Leopold.jpg|Saint Leopold's skull relic, Klosterneuburg Monastery

</gallery>

See also

  • List of rulers of Austria

References

Sources

  • Leopold III., Heiliger, Babenberger-Markgraf at AEIOU
  • Leopold at Patron Saints Index