Leopold III, ‘the Just’
Duke of Austria, Styria and Carinthia; from 1379 ruler over Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Tyrol and the Forelands
Born in Vienna in 1351 (exact date of birth disputed)
Died at the Battle of Sempach (present-day Switzerland) on 9 July 1386
Motto: ‘Virtuti nil invium – Nothing is impervious to valour’
During the 1360s Leopold administered Tyrol and the Habsburg Swabian territories. However, he pressed for greater participation in government and in 1379 obtained the division of the Habsburg lands from his brother, Duke Albrecht III: Leopold received Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, the Wendish March together with Tyrol and the Swabian territories. In 1386 Leopold was killed in a battle near Sempach against the Swiss Confederation, at which his army of knights suffered an annihilating defeat.
