With the elevation of Austria to a duchy in 1156 through the Privilegium Minus, Austria became an independent dominion within the Holy Roman Empire. Henry II Jasomirgott, the first Duke of Austria, moved his residence to Vienna, laying the groundwork for the city’s importance as a political center.
Union with Styria (1186–1194)
Austria expanded under Leopold V the Virtuous (1177–1194), thanks to the Georgenberg Pact of 1186. This agreement secured the inheritance of the Duchy of Styria after the death of its childless ruler, Ottokar IV, in 1192. Styria, which had only recently become a duchy in 1180, encompassed not just present-day Styria but also parts of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, and Slovenia. With this union, Austria gained significant new territories, strengthening its political position within the empire.
Leopold V’s fame grew further when, during his return from the Third Crusade in 1192, he imprisoned Richard the Lionheart of England at Dürnstein Castle. The ransom money from Richard’s release funded many of Leopold’s projects, enhancing Austria’s infrastructure and influence.
Golden Age under Leopold VI the Glorious (1198–1230)
The peak of Babenberg power came under Leopold VI the Glorious (1198–1230). He fostered the flourishing of Gothic art and High Medieval culture in Austria, positioning the duchy as a center of learning and artistic innovation. Under his rule, the Babenbergs became one of the most powerful families in Central Europe, consolidating their holdings and enhancing the cultural prestige of Vienna.
Frederick II the Quarrelsome and the End of the Babenberg Dynasty (1230–1246)
Leopold VI’s son, Frederick II the Quarrelsome (1230–1246), inherited the duchy but faced growing internal and external challenges. In 1238, Frederick divided Austria into Upper Austria (Ob der Enns) and Lower Austria (Unter der Enns), a division still reflected in modern Austria’s regional structure. The regions around Steyr and Traungau became part of Upper Austria rather than Styria, reshaping the internal boundaries of the duchy.
Frederick’s reign was marked by efforts to stabilize his realm, including issuing a Patent of Protection for Jews in 1244, reflecting a degree of tolerance in an otherwise turbulent period. However, his ambitions brought conflict with neighboring powers, including the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1246, Frederick was killed at the Battle of the Leitha River in a clash with the Hungarians. With no heirs to succeed him, the Babenberg dynasty came to an end, leaving Austria without a ruling family and plunging the region into a period of political uncertainty known as the Interregnum.