Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria
1339 – 1365 · Generation IV · Duke of Austria (r. 1358–1365) · Counts & Dukes of Austria
Rudolf (1339 – 1365). Duke of Austria (r. 1358–1365). Married Catherine in 1356. Self-styled Archduke (Privilegium Maius); founded the University of Vienna; died without issue. Called “the Founder,” he was the first Habsburg duke born inside Austria itself. Stung when the Golden Bull of 1356 left his father outside the circle of seven imperial prince-electors, he answered with forged charters devised to raise the Austrian dukes to loftier titles, rights and privileges; Emperor Charles IV refused to confirm them, but Rudolf took up the archducal style from 1359 regardless and pressed the claim to the end. His reach grew all the same — count of Tyrol from 1363 and first duke of Carniola from 1364.
One of 19 people of Counts & Dukes of Austria (1218–1496) in this archive. The counts who became dukes of Austria, before a Habsburg wore an imperial crown.
Line of descent: Rudolf I of Germany → Albert I of Germany → Albert II, Duke of Austria → Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria.
Parents
- Albert II, Duke of Austria (1298 – 1358)
- Joanna of Pfirt (1300 – 1351)
Siblings
- Frederick III of Austria (1347 – 1362)
- Albert III, Duke of Austria (1349 – 1395)
- Leopold III, Duke of Austria (1351 – 1386)
Partners
- Married Catherine of Bohemia (1342 – 1395) in 1356
Life
- 1339 — Born
- 1356 — Married Catherine
- 1365 — Died