From 960 until 1246, the Margraviate of Austria and its successor, the Duchy of Austria, was ruled by the House of Babenberg. At that time, Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1246 until 1918, the duchy and its successor, the Archduchy of Austria, was ruled by the House of Habsburg, which also took the title of Holy Roman Emperor in 1452. Following the Empire's dissolution in 1806, the Austrian rulers adopted the title of Emperor of Austria. Following the defeat and dissolution of Austria-Hungary in World War I, the titles were abolished or fell into abeyance with the establishment of the modern Republic of Austria.

Margraves and Dukes of Austria The March or Margraviate of Austria, originally known as Marcha Orientalis, was formed 960 out of the lands of the former Carolingian March of Pannonia following the reconquest of that territory by the German king, and later Holy Roman Emperor, Otto the Great. The oldest attestation of the name "Austria" dates back to 996, where the written name ostarrichi ("eastern realm") occurs in a document transferring land in present-day Austria to a Bavarian monastery.

Name BirthDeath Reign Ruling part Consort Notes Burkhard Unknown lifespan 960 976 March of Austria Unknown Mentioned in 970 as Margrave of the Marchia Orientalis. Was deposed by Emperor Otto II after joining the uprising of Duke Henry II of Bavaria. Dates uncertain.

House of Babenberg

The March of Austria was given to the Babengers in 976. In 1156, the Privilegium Minus elevated the march to a duchy, independent of the Duchy of Bavaria.

Name BirthDeath Reign Ruling part Consort(s)Child(ren) Notes Leopold Ithe Illustrious 10 July 994Würzburg 21 July 97610 July 994 March of Austria Richardis of Sualafeldgaunine children Founder of the Babenbergs. First mentioned on 21 July 976 and likely appointed Margrave that day or shortly before. Henry Ithe Strong (?)23 June 1018 10 July 99423 June 1018 March of Austria Unmarried In his reign (996), the name Ostarrichi (later Osterreich, Austria) appeared for the first time to designate the land he ruled. Adalbert Ithe Victorious 26 May 1055Melk 23 June 101826 May 1055 March of Austria Glismod of West-Saxonyno childrenFrozza Orseoloc.1025?two children Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers. Ernestthe Brave 102710 June 1075 26 May 105510 June 1075 March of Austria Adelaide of Eilenburg1060three childrenSwanhilde of Ungarnmark1072no children Expanded his Bavarian margraviate to the Morava and Leitha rivers. Leopold IIthe Fair 105012 October 1095Gars am Kamp 10 June 107512 October 1095 March of Austria Ida of Formbach-Ratelnberg1065eight children Supported the Gregorian Reforms, and was an active opponent to Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor during the Investiture Controversy. Leopold IIIthe Saint 1073Gars am Kamp15 November 1136Klosterneuburg 12 October 109515 November 1136 March of Austria Maria of Pergno childrenAgnes of Germany1106nineteen children His second marriage brought the margraviate of Austria closer to the Imperial family, which raised the importance of the Babenbergs. Consequently, more royal rights were granted to Austria. Adalbert IIthe Pious 11069 November 1137 15 November 11369 November 1137 March of Austria Adelaide of Poland1128/29no childrenHedwig of Hungary1132no children Usually not counted as margrave,Some sources state that he was disinherited, while giving no reason for that. It's possible that it this argument was an attempt to justifiy the unusual choice of young Leopold IV as successor to his father. despite being cited as so as early as 1119. Nevertheless, it's possible that he ruled for a year, or at least as claimant to his younger brother Leopold. If he ruled, he left no children. Knighted in 1125Continuatio Prædictorum Vindobonensium 1125, MGH SS, p. 725. Leopold IVthe Generous 1108 – 18 October 1141Niederalteich 9 November 113718 October 1141 March of Austria Maria of Bohemia28 September 1138no children Also Duke of Bavaria, title given to him after his struggles with the House of Welf. Henry IIJasomirgottHis epithet as no certain origin; it's possible that it derived from the oath joch sam mir got helfe ("Yes, so help me God") 110713 January 1177Vienna 18 October 114113 January 1177 March of AustriaDuchy of Austria Gertrude of Süpplingenburg1 May 1142one childTheodora Komnene1148three children Succeeded his younger brother in Austria and also as Duke of Bavaria. Moved his capital to Vienna. In 1156, Austria was raised to a Duchy. Leopold Vthe Virtuous 115731 December 1194Graz 13 January 117731 December 1194 Duchy of Austria Helena of Hungary1174four children Children of Henry II, divided Austria: Leopold V kept the main duchy and annexed the Duchy of Styria to his domain in 1192. Henry Ithe Elder 115831 August 1223 13 January 117731 August 1223 Duchy of Mödling Richeza of Bohemia1177one child Leopold gave his brother Henry the so-called Duchy of Mödling (title Henry used from 1205), which spanned from Liesing to Piesting and Bruck an der Leitha. Henry I and his descendants became mostly interested in the arts. Frederick Ithe Catholic 117516 April 1198The Holy Land 31 December 119416 April 1198 Duchy of Austria Unmarried Left no children. Leopold VIthe Glorious 15 October 117628 July 1230San Germano 16 April 119828 July 1230 Duchy of Austria Theodora Angelina1203seven children Henry IIthe Profane 120829 November 1228 31 August 122329 November 1228 Duchy of Mödling Agnes of Thuringia29 November 1225Nurembergone child Nephew of Henry I, apparently succeeded him as ruler, preceding his cousin (Henry I's son). He is referenced as Heinricus iuvenis dux who died in 1227,Continuatio Scotorum 1227, MGH SS IX, p. 624 and Henrici de Medlico (Henry of Mödling).Continuatio Zwetlenses III 1252, MGH SS IX, p. 655. Henry IIIthe Younger 11821236 29 November 12281236 Duchy of Mödling Unmarried After his death the duchy reverted to his cousin Gertrude, daughter of Henry II. Frederick IIthe Quarrelsome 25 April 1211Wiener Neustadt15 June 1246Leitha 28 July 123015 June 1246 Duchy of Austria Eudokia Sophia Laskarina Angelinano childrenAgnes of Merania1229no children His troublesome marriages with no children opened a succession crisis in Austria. Gertrude 122624 April 1288 12364 October 1250 Duchy of Mödling Vladislaus of Bohemia1246no childrenHerman VI, Margrave of Baden1248two childrenRoman Danylovych1252one child Heiress of Mödling. After her cousin's death in 1246, she was the first to claim the duchy. She was associated with her first two husbands. However, as Herman of Baden failed to defeat the opposition of Austrian nobility, her rule weakened substantially, giving them minimal control over the duchies. Her first refusal of a third marriage with the brother of William II of Holland, combined with the occupation of Austria by her cousin Margaret and Ottokar of Bohemia in 1252, halted her claims. Although she was even given a part of Styria in 1254, she did not forswear her claim; her territorial portion was taken away from her in 1267. 15 June 12464 October 12501254–1267 Duchy of Austria Vladislaus of Bohemia 12273 January 1247Leitha 15 June 12463 January 1247 Duchy of Austria Gertrude1246no children Herman VI of Baden c.12264 October 1250 12484 October 1250 Duchy of Austria Gertrude1248two children Frederick I of Baden 1249Alland29 October 1268Naples 12541267 Duchy of Austria Unmarried Margaret 120429 October 1266Krumau am Kamp 6 May 125229 October 1266 Duchy of Austria Henry (VII) of Germany29 November 1225Nurembergtwo childrenOttokar II of Bohemia11 February 1252Hainburg an der Donauno children Margaret and her husband, future King of Bohemia, invaded Austria in 1252 and were successfully proclaimed Dukes of Austria. After the annulment of their marriage, Margaret retired and Ottokar continued his rule until 1276, when he signed away his claims in Austria in favor of Rudolph of Habsburg. The matter would be settled with his defeat and death at the Battle on the Marchfeld (1278). Premislaus Ottokar II of Bohemia 1233Městec Králové26 August 1278Dürnkrut 6 May 12521261 Duchy of Austria Margaret11 February 1252Hainburg an der Donauno childrenKunigunda Rostislavna of Halych25 October 1261Pressburgthree children 1261November 1276 Duchy of Austria

House of Habsburg

Count Rudolf of Habsburg, elected as king of Germany (1273), was able during 1276–1278 to decisively defeat his main rival, the Bohemian king Ottokar II, and to regain his Austrian domains back for the Empire. By his imperial authority, Rudolf later (1282) invested his sons Albrecht and Rudolf with the duchies of Austria and Styria, thereby securing them for the House of Habsburg. Austria remained under Habsburg rule for more than 600 years, forming the core of the Habsburg monarchy and the present-day country of Austria.

The most important Austrian rulers until the Victory at Vienna in 1683 are described in the book Symmetria iuridico Austriaca.

Possessions (and partitions) of Austria

Duchy of Austria(1291–1379) Duchy ofLower Austria(1379–1457) Duchies of Inner and Further Austria(1379–1406) Duchy ofInner Austria(1406–1453) Duchy ofFurther Austria(1406–1439) County ofTyrol(1406–1439) Duchy of Further Austria(1439–1453) Archduchy ofInner Austria(1453–1490) Archduchy ofFurther Austria(1453–1490) Archduchy of Austria(1490–1564) Archduchy of Lowerand Upper Austria(1564–1619) Archduchy ofInner Austria(1564–1619) Archduchy ofFurther Austria(1564–1619) Archduchy of Austria(1619–1623) Archduchy of Lowerand Inner Austria(1623–1665) Archduchy ofFurther Austria(1623–1665) Archduchy of Austria(1665–1804)

Table of rulers