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Why did Frederick I elevate Austria from a margravate to a duchy?
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Frederick I
Frederick I as a Crusader with (right) Henry of SchƤftlarn dedicating to him a copy of the History of the First Crusade by Robert of St. Remy; miniature from a manuscript in the Vatican Library.
In 1156, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) elevated Austria from a margravate to a duchy as part of a political compromise to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute between the Hohenstaufen and Welf dynasties.12
The conflict centered on the duchy of Bavaria, which was claimed by both the Welf Henry the Lion and the Babenberg ruler of Austria, Henry II Jasomirgott. To settle the matter, Frederick I awarded Bavaria to Henry the Lion. In exchange for Henry II Jasomirgottās surrender of his claim to Bavaria, Frederick I granted Austria the status of a duchy and issued the Privilegium Minus. This charter provided the Austrian dukes with significant privileges, including:
- Succession rights through both the male and female lines.12
- The authority to appoint a successor if no direct heir existed.12
- Reduced military obligations, limiting service to campaigns against Austriaās neighbors.12
- Exemption from attending imperial diets unless they were held in Bavaria.12