The Golden Babenberger Years

The Babenberger dynasty, though little known outside Austria, profoundly shaped the region's history for 270 years, from 976 to 1246. Their rule was centered in a territory then vaguely described as the "region in the east," later known as Ostmark or Austria.

Initially established by Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great as a military frontier, or "mark," the territory served as a buffer zone against incursions from the east, particularly from the Hungarians. The margrave, responsible for preventing further invasions, held more rights than a typical count. This borderland, characterized by dense forests and wilderness, required significant efforts to attract settlers and develop agriculture.

Over centuries, the Babenbergers transformed this frontier into a more developed region, eventually elevating their status to dukes. Their impact on the area's infrastructure and governance was substantial. Historian Bertrand Michael Buchmann notes that their extinction in 1246 was a significant shock, with one monk lamenting that they had "just begun to feel like Austrians" and fearing they would be "torn apart by wolves," referring to neighboring powers.

Following the Babenbergers' demise, the territory was nearly absorbed into Bohemia. The legacy of their rule, however, laid the groundwork for future Austrian identity and development, despite the initial precariousness of its existence as a border province.

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It's a shame, we had just begun to feel like Austrians. Now the wolves will tear us apart.