Leopold II, Margrave of Austria
Encyclopedia
Leopold II was a Babenberg
Margrave
of Austria ruling from 1075 onwards. He was known as Leopold the 'fair'. He was the son of Ernest the Brave and Adelheid, the daughter of Margrave Dedi (or Dedo) II of Meissen. In the Investiture Dispute, he first sided with Emperor Henry IV
, but in 1081 at the Diet of Tulln switched sides under the influence of his wife Itha
and Bishop Altmann of Passau
. Subsequently, he was deposed by the Emperor, who gave the fief to Vratislav II of Bohemia, who defeated Leopold in the Battle of Mailberg. Ultimately, Leopold managed to retain his position, but he lost some territory in Southern Moravia
. Leopold resided in Gars am Kamp
.
In 1089 Leopold II helped pay for the construction of Melk Abbey
in eastern Austria
by donating the land for the new Abbey. A few miles away from Melk Abbey, in eastern Austria, are the ruins of Thunau a Kamp castle, once a summer residence of Leopold II.
(Ida of Cham), countess of Cham
(1060–1101), in Cham, Oberphalz, Bavaria
. Ida was the daughter of Rapoto IV, Count of Cham, and Mathilde. Ida is said to have died on a crusade.
The two had a son, Leopold III, as well as six daughters who married Dukes and Counts from Carinthia, Bohemia and Germany.
Babenberg
Originally from Bamberg in Franconia, now northern Bavaria, an apparent branch of the Babenbergs or Babenberger went on to rule Austria as counts of the march and dukes from 976–1248, before the rise of the house of Habsburg.-One or two families:...
Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Austria ruling from 1075 onwards. He was known as Leopold the 'fair'. He was the son of Ernest the Brave and Adelheid, the daughter of Margrave Dedi (or Dedo) II of Meissen. In the Investiture Dispute, he first sided with Emperor Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
, but in 1081 at the Diet of Tulln switched sides under the influence of his wife Itha
Ida of Formbach-Ratelnberg
Ida of Austria , daughter of Rapoto IV of Cham, also known as Itha, was the wife of Leopold II of Austria, and the mother of Leopold III. She was known as one of the great beauties of her day....
and Bishop Altmann of Passau
Altmann of Passau
Altmann of Passau , often called Saint or Blessed Altmann, was a founder of monasteries and Bishop of Passau. He is venerated as a saint, but not officially canonised....
. Subsequently, he was deposed by the Emperor, who gave the fief to Vratislav II of Bohemia, who defeated Leopold in the Battle of Mailberg. Ultimately, Leopold managed to retain his position, but he lost some territory in Southern Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
. Leopold resided in Gars am Kamp
Gars am Kamp
Gars am Kamp is a town in the district of Horn in Lower Austria, Austria....
.
In 1089 Leopold II helped pay for the construction of Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey
Melk Abbey or Stift Melk is an Austrian Benedictine abbey, and one of the world's most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Danube in Lower Austria, adjoining the Wachau valley....
in eastern Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
by donating the land for the new Abbey. A few miles away from Melk Abbey, in eastern Austria, are the ruins of Thunau a Kamp castle, once a summer residence of Leopold II.
Marriage
In 1065 Leopold married IthaIda of Formbach-Ratelnberg
Ida of Austria , daughter of Rapoto IV of Cham, also known as Itha, was the wife of Leopold II of Austria, and the mother of Leopold III. She was known as one of the great beauties of her day....
(Ida of Cham), countess of Cham
Cham, Germany
Cham is the capital of the district of Cham in the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria in Germany.-Location:Cham lies within the Cham-Further lowland, which is bordered on the south by the Bavarian Forest and on the north by the Oberpfälzer Wald...
(1060–1101), in Cham, Oberphalz, 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...
. Ida was the daughter of Rapoto IV, Count of Cham, and Mathilde. Ida is said to have died on a crusade.
The two had a son, Leopold III, as well as six daughters who married Dukes and Counts from Carinthia, Bohemia and Germany.