List of governors of Lower Austria facts for kids

A governor (called Landeshauptmann in Austria) is the leader of one of Austria's states. This article lists the people who have served as the top leader of Lower Austria, one of the nine states in Austria. These leaders have guided Lower Austria through many important times in history.

Leaders of Lower Austria

Early Governors (Before 1918)

Before 1918, Austria was an empire, and Lower Austria was a very important part of it. The leaders of Lower Austria during this time were often called "governors" or "statthalters." They were usually nobles chosen by the emperor. Their job was to manage the region and make sure the emperor's rules were followed.

Governors of the Archduchy (1500–1749)

The Archduchy of Austria was a large and powerful territory. From 1500 to 1749, many important figures served as governors. They helped manage the land and its people. For example, Wolfgang von Polheim was one of the earliest governors, serving from 1501 to 1512. Later, Pietro Bonomo, a bishop, also held this role. These leaders played a big part in the daily life and politics of the region.

• Wolfgang Freiherr von Polheim (1501–1512)
• Georg von Rottal zu Thalberg (1513–1521)
• Pietro Bonomo (1521–1523)
• Sigismund Freiherr von Dietrichstein (1523–1524)
• Leonhard von Harrach zu Rohrau (1524–1525)
• Cyriak Freiherr von Polheim und Wartenburg (1526–1527)
• Georg Freiherr von Puchheim zu Raabs und Krumbach (1528–1531)
• Christoph von Rauber (1532–1536)
• Trojan von Auersperg (1537–1541)
• Hans (III.) Ungnad Freiherr von Sonneck (1542–1544)
• Christoph von Eyczing (1544–1551)
• Gabriel Ritter von Kreuzer (1552–1564)
• Joachim Freiherr von Schönkirchen (1565–1572)
• Oswald Philipp von Eyczing (1572–1587)
• Seifried Freiherr von Breuner (1587–1591)
• Ruprecht Freiherr von Stotzingen (1592–1600)
• Wolfgang Freiherr von Hofkirchen (1600–1601)
• Ernst Mollard Freiherr von Reinegg und Drosendorf (1601–1608)
• Paul Sixtus Trautson Graf zu Falkenstein (1608–1621)
• Leonhard Helfried Graf von Meggau (1621–1626)
• Seifried Christoph Breuner (1626–1640)
• Georg Freiherr von Teufel (1640–1642)
• Johann Franz Trautson Graf zu Falkenstein (1642–1663)
• Konrad Balthasar von Starhemberg (1663–1687)
• Johann Quintin Freiherr von Jörger (1687–1705)
• Ferdinand Karl Graf und Herr von Weltz (1705–1711)
• Sigismund Friedrich Graf von Khevenhüller (1711–1742)
• Leopold Johann Victorin Wilhelm Graf von Windisch-Graetz (1742–1746)
• Johann Ferdinand Graf von Kuefstein (1747–1749)

Leaders of the Archduchy (1749–1809)

During this period, the role of governor continued to be important. These leaders helped manage the region as Austria faced new challenges and changes. They were responsible for local administration and representing the emperor's authority.

• Adam Philipp Losy Graf von Losymthal (1749–1750)
• Philipp Joseph Graf von Orsini-Rosenberg (1750–1753)
• Heinrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Haugwitz (1753–1758)
• Franz Ferdinand Graf von Schrattenbach (1759–1770)
• Christian August Graf von Seilern-Aspang (1770–1779)
• Joseph Johann Nepomuk Graf von Herberstein (1779–1782)
• Johann Anton Graf von Pergen (1782–1790)
• Wenzel Graf Sauer von und zu Ankenstein (1791–1795)
• Franz Josef Graf von Saurau (1795–1797)
• Jakob Reichsfreiherr von Wöber zu Hagenberg (1797–1802)
• Joseph Thaddäus Vogt Freiherr von Sumerau (1802–1804)
• Joseph Karl Graf von Dietrichstein (1804–1805)
• Ignaz Karl Graf von Chorinsky, Freiherr von Ledske (1805–1807)
• Ferdinand Graf von Bissingen und Nippenburg (1807–1809)

Governors (Statthalter) of the Archduchy (1809–1918)

As the 19th century progressed, the role of the governor remained central to the administration of Lower Austria. These leaders served until the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. They oversaw the region during times of great change, including industrial growth and social reforms.

• Franz Josef Graf von Saurau (1809–1814)
• Ignaz Karl Graf von Chorinsky, Freiherr von Ledske (1815–1816)
• Augustin Freiherr Reichmann von Hochkirchen (1817–1828)
• Alois Graf von Ugarte (1828–1829)
• Franz Graf von Klebelsberg (1829–1830)
• Johann Adam Freiherr Talatzko von Gestieticz (1830–1848)
• Anton Raimund Graf von Lamberg (1848)
• Joseph Wilhelm von Eminger (1849–1858)
• Karl Johann Joseph Prinz von Lobkowitz (1858–1860)
• Anton Halbhuber Freiherr von Festwill (1860–1862)
• Gustav Ignaz Graf von Chorinsky (1862–1868)
• Philipp Weber von Ebenhof (1868–1872)
• Sigmund Conrad von Eybesfeld (1872–1880)
• Ludwig Freiherr Possinger (1880–1889)
• Erich Graf von Kielmansegg (1889–1895)
• Friedrich Freiherr Bourguignon von Baumberg (1895)
• Erich Graf von Kielmansegg (1895–1911)
• Richard Graf von Bienerth-Schmerling (1911–1915)
• Oktavian Freiherr Regner von Bleyleben (1915–1918)

Modern Governors (After 1918)

After 1918, Austria became a republic. The role of the governor (Landeshauptmann) changed. They became the elected head of the state government, similar to a premier or prime minister in other countries. These leaders are chosen by the state parliament and are responsible for leading the state's administration.

No.	Portrait	Name	Term			Party	Period
			Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Leopold Steiner	5 November 1918	20 May 1919		Christian Social	First Republic (1918–1934)
2		Albert Sever	20 May 1919	10 November 1920		Social Democrat
3		Johann Mayer	10 November 1920	9 June 1922		Christian Social
4		Karl Buresch	9 June 1922	31 July 1931		Christian Social
5		Josef Reither	31 July 1931	19 May 1932		Christian Social
(4)		Karl Buresch	19 May 1932	18 May 1933		Christian Social
(5)		Josef Reither	18 May 1933	30 July 1934		Christian Social Fatherland's Front
6		Eduard Baar-Baarenfels	30 July 1934	17 October 1935		Fatherland's Front	Austrofascism (1934–1938)
(5)		Josef Reither	17 October 1935	12 March 1938		Fatherland's Front
(Reichsstatthalter and Gauleiter of the Reichsgau of Lower Danube)							Nazi Germany (1938–1945)
7		Roman Jäger	12 March 1938	24 May 1938		NSDAP
8		Hugo Jury	24 May 1938	8 May 1945		NSDAP
9		Leopold Figl	25 May 1945	15 October 1945		ÖVP	Second Republic (1945–present)
(5)		Josef Reither	15 October 1945	4 May 1949		ÖVP
10		Johann Steinböck	4 May 1949	14 January 1962		ÖVP
(9)		Leopold Figl	14 January 1962	9 May 1965		ÖVP
11		Eduard Hartmann	16 June 1965	14 October 1966		ÖVP
12		Andreas Maurer	24 November 1966	22 January 1981		ÖVP
13		Siegfried Ludwig	22 January 1981	20 October 1992		ÖVP
14		Erwin Pröll	20 October 1992	19 April 2017		ÖVP
15		Johanna Mikl-Leitner	19 April 2017	Incumbent		ÖVP