LEOPOLD III, Saint, Margrave of AUSTRIA. — Born at Melk in 1073, of the House of Babenberg, died on 15 November 1136. Educated by St Altmann, Bishop of Passau, he assumed in 1095, after his father’s death, the government of the margraviate, which he held for forty years. At the beginning of his reign he facilitated the passage of the first Crusaders through Austria. He generously endowed churches and monasteries, especially the abbey of Melk; he also founded others.
LEOPARDI, GIACOMO - A room in the L. Library - Recanati.
(photo: Bildarchiv d. Ö. Nationalbibliothek)
Though faithful to the Church and the papacy, he sided with Henry IV against his rebellious son Henry V, but in 1105 he transferred his allegiance to the latter in order to marry his sister Agnes. By her he had eighteen children, among whom Otto, Bishop of Freising, the famous historian, Conrad, Archbishop of Salzburg, Leopold and Henry (Jasomirgott), who succeeded him in the government.
He was canonized in 1485 by Innocent VIII and in 1663 Emperor Leopold I declared him patron of Austria. Feast day: November 15. In iconography he is represented in princely attire, with a crown and a model of a church, and sometimes with two baskets of bread for the poor.