Saint Leopold III of Austria

Life story

Leopold belonged to the Babenberg dynasty and ruled Austria as margrave from 1095 until his death in 1136. He is known as Leopold the Good. In 1106 he married Agnes, the widow of Duke Frederick I of Swabia and sister of Emperor Henry V, which raised the standing of the Babenbergs. The marriage produced a large family, including Henry II, later duke of Austria, and Otto, later bishop of Freising. In 1125 Leopold was considered as a candidate for king of the Romans, but he declined.

He is remembered above all as a founder of religious houses. In 1114 he and Agnes established a community of secular canons at Klosterneuburg, which was handed over to Augustinian canons in 1133. On the advice of his son Otto he set up the Cistercian abbey of Heiligenkreuz, founded in 1133, and he also founded Kleinmariazell. The tradition of Klosterneuburg tells that Agnes's wedding veil was blown away and found nine years later in an elder bush, and that the couple chose that place for the monastery; this is a legend, not documented history.

Leopold died on 15 November 1136 near Klosterneuburg. He was canonised by Pope Innocent VIII on 6 January 1485 and is honoured as a patron of Austria. His feast is 15 November.

Works and witness

• Ruled Austria as margrave from 1095 until 1136
• Married Agnes, sister of Emperor Henry V, in 1106
• Declined candidacy for king of the Romans in 1125
• Founded the Klosterneuburg canonry in 1114 and the abbey of Heiligenkreuz in 1133
• Canonised on 6 January 1485

Patron of

Austria

Saints from the same country

Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, Saint Florian, Blessed Charles I of Austria

References

• Stift Klosterneuburg, press kit July 2025 (stift-klosterneuburg.at)
• Austria-Forum, 'Leopold III. (Österreich)' (austria-forum.org)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.