Ernest, Margrave of Austria

Ernest (German: Ernst, 1027 – 10 June 1075), known as Ernest the Brave (Ernst der Tapfere), was the Margrave of Austria from 1055 to his death in 1075. He was a member of the House of Babenberg.

Biography

He was born to Margrave Adalbert of Austria and his wife Frozza Orseolo, daughter of Doge Otto Orseolo of Venice. He increased the territory of his margraviate by amalgamating the Bohemian and Hungarian frontier marches up to the Thaya, March and Leitha rivers in what is today Lower Austria. In his time, the colonisation of the remote Waldviertel region was begun by his ministeriales, the Kuenring knights.

Ernest received his epithet due to his fighting against King Béla I of Hungary and his son Géza I on behalf of their rival Solomon according to the chronicler Lambert of Hersfeld. In the commencing Investiture Controversy, he sided with King Henry IV of Germany and battled against the Saxons, dying at the Battle of Langensalza.

Marriage and children

In 1050 Ernest married Adelaide of Eilenburg (1030 – 26 January 1071), daughter of the Wettin margrave Dedi I of Lusatia, who gave him three children:

• Leopold II, Margrave of Austria (1050–1095)
• Justitia (d. 1120/1122), married Count Otto II of Wolfratshausen
• Adalbert of Pernegg, Count of Bogen

In 1072 he secondly married Swanhild, daughter of Count Sighard VII in the Hungarian March.

See also

• List of rulers of Austria

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• Ernst der Tapfere at AEIOU

1. Ernest of Austria
2. Leopold II, Margrave of Austria
3. Adalbert, Margrave of Austria
4. Leopold I, Margrave of Austria
5. Ernest, Duke of Austria
6. Ernest
7. Leopold III, Margrave of Austria
8. Adelaide of Eilenburg
9. List of rulers of Austria
10. Margraviate of Austria
11. Frozza Orseolo
12. Maximilian, Margrave of Baden
13. Ernest, Margrave of Baden-Durlach
14. Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
15. Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria
16. Charles II, Margrave of Baden-Durlach
17. Duchy of Austria
18. Charles, Margrave of Burgau
19. Dedi I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark
20. Swanhilde of Ungarnmark