Albert II, Duke of Austria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albert II
16th century portrait of duke Albert II by Anton Boys
Duke of Austria and Styria
Reign	13 January 1330 – 16 August 1358
Predecessor	Frederick the Fair
Successor	Rudolf IV
Duke of Carinthia
Reign	2 April 1335 – 16 August 1358
Predecessor	Henry of Bohemia
Successor	Rudolf IV
Born	12 December 1298 Habsburg Castle, Swabia
Died	16 August 1358(1358-08-16) (aged 59) Vienna, Austria
Spouse	Johanna of Pfirt
Issue	Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria Catherine Margaret Frederick III of Austria Albert III, Duke of Austria Leopold III, Duke of Austria
House	House of Habsburg
Father	Albert I of Germany
Mother	Elizabeth of Carinthia

Albert II (born 12 December 1298, died 16 August 1358) was a powerful ruler from the House of Habsburg. He was known as the Wise or the Lame. From 1330 until his death, he was the duke of Austria and Styria. He also became duke of Carinthia and margrave of Carniola in 1335.

Albert's Life and Rule

Albert II was born at Habsburg Castle in Swabia. He was a younger son of King Albert I of Germany and Elizabeth of Carinthia. At first, Albert was expected to become a church leader. In 1313, he was even chosen to be the Bishop of Passau. However, he later decided not to take this role.

After his older brother Frederick the Fair died in 1330, Albert II and his brother Otto the Merry became joint rulers. They shared control of all the Habsburg lands in Austria and Styria. Albert made his family's lands even bigger through his marriage to Joanna of Pfirt. She brought with her the Alsatian county of Pfirt and several cities.

In 1335, Albert's uncle, Duke Henry of Carinthia, passed away. Albert successfully claimed the Duchy of Carinthia and the March of Carniola. He managed to get these lands from Emperor Louis IV, even though the powerful King John of Bohemia also wanted them.

Albert was highly respected by leaders across Europe. In 1335, Pope Benedict XII asked him to help settle a disagreement between the church and Emperor Louis. Two years later, King Philip VI of France asked for his help against Emperor Louis and King Edward III of England. Despite these requests, Albert remained loyal to Emperor Louis until the emperor's death in 1347. He was also a close friend of Emperor Louis's son, Duke Louis V of Bavaria.

In 1350, a castle called Rapperswil Castle was destroyed by forces from Rudolf Brun. Albert then led his army against the Swiss Confederacy and tried to capture the city of Zürich. However, he was not successful.

Important Changes in Austria

In Austria, Duke Albert started the building of the beautiful Gothic Choir at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. This part of the cathedral is still known as the Albertinian Choir.

He also created a set of rules for how the Habsburg lands would be passed down. This was called the "Albertinian House Rule" (Albertinische Hausordnung). It said that the oldest son would inherit everything. Even though this rule was not followed right after his death, it was brought back later by Emperor Maximilian. This rule became a very important law in Austria until 1918. Albert also helped create the first constitutions for Styria and Carinthia.

People have wondered if Albert had a health condition that caused him to be partly paralyzed. This might explain his nickname "Albert the Lame." Some think he had a type of arthritis. However, this did not stop him from having many children. Six of his children lived to adulthood.

Albert died in Vienna in 1358. He was buried in a monastery he had founded, Gaming Charterhouse in Lower Austria. Later, his remains were moved to a local church. In 1985, they were returned to the Gaming Charterhouse in a special ceremony.

According to his own rules, Albert's oldest son, Rudolf IV, became the next ruler. Rudolf's younger brothers helped him govern. However, after Rudolf died in 1365, the Habsburg lands were split between Albert's younger sons, Albert III and Leopold III. This happened because of an agreement called the 1379 Treaty of Neuberg.

Albert's Family

On 15 February 1324, Albert married Countess Johanna of Pfirt in Vienna. They had several children:

• Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria (born 1 November 1339, died 27 July 1365). He became Duke of Austria, Styria, and Carinthia after his father. He had no children.
• Catherine (born 1342, died 10 January 1381). She became an Abbess (a leader in a convent) in Vienna.
• Margaret (born 1346, died 14 January 1366). She married twice.
• Frederick III of Austria (born 1347, died 1362). He died young and did not marry.
• Albert III, Duke of Austria (born 9 September 1349, died 29 August 1395). He married twice and had children. His family line became known as the Albertinian line of the Habsburgs.
• Leopold III, Duke of Austria (born 1 November 1351, died 9 July 1386). He married and had children. His family line became known as the Leopoldian line of the Habsburgs.

Male-line family tree