View source for Leopold III, Margrave of Austria

{{short description|12th-century Austrian nobleman and Catholic saint}}
{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix= Saint
| name            = Leopold III
| image           = Herzog Leopold III. Babenberg.jpg
| imagesize       = 
| alt             = 
| caption         = Saint Leopold III with two deceased sons, Babenberger Stammbaum, [[Klosterneuburg Monastery]], 1489–1492
| titles          = Margrave of Austria
| birth_date      = 1073
| birth_place     = Babenberg Castle, [[Gars am Kamp]], Lower Austria
| death_date      = 15 November 1136
| death_place     = [[Klosterneuburg Monastery]], Lower Austria (incl. burial)
| venerated_in    = [[Catholic Church]]
| beatified_date  = 
| beatified_place = 
| beatified_by    = 
| canonized_date  = 6 January 1485
| canonized_place = 
| canonized_by    = [[Pope Innocent VIII]]
| major_shrine    = 
| feast_day       = 15 November
| attributes      = Model of church
| patronage       = Austria, lower Austria, upper Austria, Vienna, death of children, large families, step-parents
| issues          = 
| suppressed_date = 
| suppressed_by   = 
| influences      = 
| influenced      = 
| tradition       = 
| major_works     = 
}}
{{Infobox noble|type
| name              = Leopold III
| title             = Margrave of Austria
| reign             = 1095–1136
| reign-type        = Margrave
| predecessor       = [[Leopold II, Margrave of Austria|Leopold II]]
| successor         = [[Leopold, Duke of Bavaria|Leopold IV]]
| suc-type          = Successor
| succession        = 
| spouse            = [[Agnes of Waiblingen|Agnes of Germany]]
| issue             = {{plainlist|
* [[Leopold IV, Duke of Bavaria]]
* [[Henry II of Austria]]
* [[Agnes of Babenberg|Agnes]]
* [[Otto of Freising]]
* [[Conrad of Babenberg|Conrad II, Archbishop of Salzburg]]
* [[Judith of Babenberg|Judith]]
* [[Gertrude of Babenberg, Duchess of Bohemia|Gertrude]]
}}
| spouse-type       = Spouse
| noble family      = [[House of Babenberg]]
| house-type        = Nobility
| father            = [[Leopold II, Margrave of Austria|Leopold II]]
| mother            = [[Ida of Formbach-Ratelnberg]]{{Dubious | Ida| date=April 2019}}
}}

'''Leopold III''' ({{langx|de|Luitpold}}, {{langx|la|Leupoldus}}, 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.<ref name="lingelbach">Lingelbach 1913, pp. 90–91.</ref>

==Biography==
Leopold was born at Babenberg castle in [[Gars am Kamp]], the son of Margrave [[Leopold II, Margrave of Austria|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]].<ref name=augcan>{{Cite web |url=http://www.augustiniancanons.org/Klosterneuburg/Leopold.htm |title="St. Leopold of Babenberg", Canons Regular of St. Augustine |access-date=2015-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821041252/http://augustiniancanons.org/Klosterneuburg/Leopold.htm |archive-date=2016-08-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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 of Waiblingen|Agnes]],{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}} the widowed sister of Emperor [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]] whom he had supported against her father [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]]. This connection to the [[Salian dynasty|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 I, Duke of Swabia|Frederick of Hohenstaufen]],<ref name=augcan/> one of her sons being [[Conrad III of Germany]].

Leopold called himself "Princeps Terræ", a reflection of his sense of territorial independence. He was considered a candidate in the election of the [[King of the Romans|Kaiser]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in 1125, but declined this honour.

He is mainly remembered for the development of the country and, in particular, the founding of several monasteries. His most important foundation is [[Klosterneuburg]] (1108).<ref name=augcan/> According to legend, the [[Virgin Mary]] appeared to him and led him to a place where he found the veil of his wife Agnes, who had lost it years earlier. He established the [[Klosterneuburg Monastery]] there. He subsequently expanded the settlement to become his residence.

Leopold also founded the monasteries of [[Heiligenkreuz Abbey|Heiligenkreuz]], [[Kleinmariazell]] and [[Seitenstetten]] which developed a territory still largely covered by forest. All of these induced the church to [[canonize]] him in 1485.

Leopold also fostered the development of cities, such as Klosterneuburg, [[Vienna]] and [[Krems an der Donau|Krems]]. The last one was granted the right to [[mint (coin)|mint]] but never attained great importance.

The writings of [[Henry of Melk]] and [[Ava (poet)|Ava of Göttweig]], which are the first literary texts from Austria, date back to Leopold's time.

He is buried in the [[Klosterneuburg Monastery]], which he founded. His skull is kept in an embroidered reliquary, which leaves the forehead exposed; it also wears an [[archducal hat]].

In 1663, under the rule of his namesake Emperor [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]], he was declared patron saint of Austria instead of [[Coloman of Stockerau]].

The brothers [[Joseph Haydn|Joseph]] and [[Michael Haydn]], each of whom sang in the choir of [[St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna|St. Stephen's Cathedral]], both sang in that capacity at Klosterneuburg on this day. Joseph Haydn later became the more famous composer of the two. Michael Haydn later (in 1805) wrote a mass in honour of Leopold, the ''Missa sub titulo Sancti Leopoldi.''

Since the death of Emperor Leopold I, the [[King's Feast]] is celebrated in [[Belgium]] on Leopold's feast day.

==Children==
His first marriage, to Maria/Adelheid von Perg, was childless.

By his second wife, [[Agnes of Waiblingen|Agnes of Germany]], widow of [[Frederick I, Duke of Swabia]]:
* Adalbert
* [[Henry II, Duke of Austria|Henry II Jasomirgott]] (1107–1177){{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
* [[Leopold, Duke of Bavaria|Leopold IV]] ({{C.}} 1108 – 1141){{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
* [[:File:Berta, Burgravine of Regensburg.jpg|Berta]], m. Henry III, Burgrave of [[Regensburg]]
* [[Agnes of Babenberg|Agnes]] (c. 1108/13 – c. 1160/63), m. [[Władysław II the Exile|Władysław II of Poland]]{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
* Ernst
* Uta, m. Luitpold I, Count of Plain
* [[Otto of Freising]] (c. 1114 – 1158), Bishop of Freising,{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}} and biographer of his nephew (from his mother's first marriage), Emperor [[Frederick I Barbarosa|Frederick I Barbarossa]]
* [[Conrad of Babenberg|Conrad]], [[Bishop of Passau]] and [[Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg|Archbishop of Salzburg]]{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
* Elisabeth, m. [[Herman II, Count of Winzenburg|Hermann II of Winzenburg]]
* [[Judith of Babenberg|Judith]], m. [[William V of Montferrat]]{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
* [[Gertrude of Babenberg, Duchess of Bohemia|Gertrude]], m. Duke (later King) [[Vladislaus II, Duke and King of Bohemia|Vladislaus II of Bohemia]]{{sfn|Freed|2016|p=xiv}}
According to the ''Continuation of the Chronicles of Klosterneuburg'', there may have been up to seven others (possibly from multiple births) stillborn or who died in infancy.

In 2013, documentation regarding the results of DNA testing of the remains of the family buried in Klosterneuburg & Heiligenkreuz strongly favor that Adalbert was the son of Leopold and Agnes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bauer |first1=Christiane Maria |last2=Bodner |first2=Martin |last3=Niederstätter |first3=Harald |last4=Niederwieser |first4=Daniela |last5=Huber |first5=Gabriela |last6=Hatzer-Grubwieser |first6=Petra |last7=Holubar |first7=Karl |last8=Parson |first8=Walther |title=Molecular genetic investigations on Austria's patron saint Leopold III |journal=Forensic Science International. Genetics |date=February 2013 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=313–315 |doi=10.1016/j.fsigen.2012.10.012 |pmid=23142176 |pmc=3593208 }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<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==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Beller |first=Steven |title=A Concise History of Austria |url=https://archive.org/details/concisehistoryof00stev |url-access=registration |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=New York |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-521-47886-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Brooke |first=Z. N. |title=A History of Europe: From 911 to 1198 |url=https://archive.org/details/AHistoryOfEuropeFrom911to1198 |publisher=Methuen & Company Ltd |location=London |year=1938 |isbn=978-1-4437-4070-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Dopsch |first=Heinz |title=Österreichische Geschichte 1122-1278 |publisher=Ueberreuter |location=Vienna |year=1999 |isbn=978-3-8000-3973-9}}
*{{cite book |title=Frederick Barbarossa: The Prince and the Myth |first=John |last=Freed |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2016 }}
* {{cite book|last=Lechner |first=Karl |title=Die Babenberger: Markgrafen und Herzoge von Österreich 976–1246 |publisher=Böhlau |location=Vienna |year=1976 |isbn=978-3-205-08508-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Leeper |first=Alexander W. |title=History of Medieval Austria |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |year=1941 |isbn=978-0-404-15347-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Lingelbach |first=William E. |title=The History of Nations: Austria-Hungary |publisher=P. F. Collier & Son Company |location=New York |year=1913 |asin=B000L3E368}}
* {{cite book|last=Pohl |first=Walter |title=Die Welt der Babenberger |publisher=Verlag Styria |location=Graz |year=1995 |isbn=978-3-222-12334-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Rickett |first=Richard |title=A Brief Survey of Austrian History |publisher=Prachner |location=Vienna |year=1985 |isbn=978-3-85367-001-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/briefsurveyofaus00rick }}
* {{cite book|last=Wegener |first=Wilhelm |title=Genealogischen Tafeln zur mitteleuropäischen Geschichte |publisher=Verlag Degener |location=Vienna |year=1965 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Leopold III, Margrave of Austria}}
* [http://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.encyclop.l/l518333.htm;internal&action=_setlanguage.action?LANGUAGE=en Leopold III., Heiliger, Babenberger-Markgraf] at [http://www.aeiou.at/ AEIOU]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101124121632/http://saints.sqpn.com/saintl20.htm Leopold at ''Patron Saints Index'']

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Babenberg]]||1073||1136}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Leopold II, Margrave of Austria|Leopold II]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of rulers of Austria|Margrave of Austria]]|years=1095–1136}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Leopold, Duke of Bavaria|Leopold IV]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Saints|Austria}}
{{Austria Rulers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leopold 03, Margrave Of Austria}}
[[Category:1073 births]]
[[Category:1136 deaths]]
[[Category:11th-century margraves of Austria]]
[[Category:12th-century margraves of Austria]]
[[Category:12th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Austrian Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:German Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:People from Melk]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic royal saints]]
[[Category:Founders of Christian monasteries]]