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.
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Leopold, Duke of Bavaria
Born: 1108 Died: 1141 |
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| German royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Henry X |
Duke of Bavaria 1139–1141 |
Succeeded by Henry XI/II |
| Preceded by Leopold III |
Margrave of Austria 1136–1141 |
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