Leopold IV, Duke of Bavaria
Encyclopedia
Leopold IV, the Generous (c. 1108 – 18 October 1141) was Margrave of Austria from 1137 and Duke of Bavaria from 1139 until his death.
He was one of the younger sons of Margrave Leopold III, the Holy. It is not known why he was originally preferred to his brothers Adalbert and Henry Jasomirgott.
Through his mother Agnes
, he was related to the Hohenstaufen
. In the course of their struggle against the competing Welfen family, he was given the formerly Welfish Bavaria
as a fief by Emperor Conrad III
. He managed to maintain his position there, as his brother Otto
was Bishop of Freising there.
The most important measure of his short reign was the Exchange of Mautern
entered into with the Bishop of Passau
in 1137. The bishop was given the Church of St. Peter in Vienna
, while the Margrave received extended stretches of land from the bishop outside the city walls, with the notable exception of the territory where a new church was to be built, which was to become St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Leopold died at Niederaltaich (Bavaria
) unexpectedly and was succeeded by his brother Henry.
He was one of the younger sons of Margrave Leopold III, the Holy. It is not known why he was originally preferred to his brothers Adalbert and Henry Jasomirgott.
Through his mother Agnes
Agnes of Germany
Agnes of Germany was the daughter of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor and Bertha of Savoy. Her maternal grandparents were Otto, Count of Savoy, Aosta and Moriana and Adelaide, Marchioness of Turin and Susa....
, he was related to the Hohenstaufen
Hohenstaufen
The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German kings in the High Middle Ages, lasting from 1138 to 1254. Three of these kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. In 1194 the Hohenstaufens also became Kings of Sicily...
. In the course of their struggle against the competing Welfen family, he was given the formerly Welfish Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
as a fief by Emperor Conrad III
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
. He managed to maintain his position there, as his brother Otto
Otto of Freising
Otto von Freising was a German bishop and chronicler.-Life:He was the fifth son of Leopold III, margrave of Austria, by his wife Agnes, daughter of the emperor Henry IV...
was Bishop of Freising there.
The most important measure of his short reign was the Exchange of Mautern
Mautern
Mautern may refer to two municipalities in Austria:* Mautern an der Donau, in Lower Austria* Mautern in Steiermark, in Styria...
entered into with the Bishop of Passau
Bishop of Passau
The Diocese of Passau is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in Germany. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of München und Freising. The diocese covers an area of 5,442 km². The current bishop is Wilhelm Schraml.-History:...
in 1137. The bishop was given the Church of St. Peter in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, while the Margrave received extended stretches of land from the bishop outside the city walls, with the notable exception of the territory where a new church was to be built, which was to become St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Leopold died at Niederaltaich (Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
) unexpectedly and was succeeded by his brother Henry.