### Austria, Styria, Habsburg dynasty
Austria Its territory was the Eastern frontier of Bavaria, belonging to the Frankish Empire at the beginning of the 9th century (Ostmark). It was first mentioned as Austria (Ostarrichi) in 996. From 976 it is governed by the Babenberg family, who attained a princely rank in 1156. After the death of the last member of the Babenberg family (1246). It belonged to the Czech king's (Ottocar) empire, then, from 1276 to Rudolf Habsburg, crowned German king, who gave it to his son, Albert. In the second half of the 13th century it became separated to Upper- and Lower-Austria. ZSA Styria This province belonging to Austria today was originally part of the Bavarian pricnipality. Its territory became a marquisate in 1050. In 1180 it became an independent principality, that fell into the hands of the Babenberg family - who ruled Austria - in 1192. After the dying out of the Babenberg family (1246) its southern region became part of Hungary (1254-60), its northern region fell under the rule of the Czech king, Ottocar II (from 1254), who extended his rule over the whole province after 1260. In 1276 Ottocar I gave his possession of Styria to the German king, Rudolf, who in 1282 presented the province - together with Austria - to his sons as feudal tenure. ZSA The Habsburg dynasty The first known ancestor of the Habsburgs lived in the second half of the 10th century. The original estates of the family lay in the upper-Rhine region and around Lake Boden. Rudolf, who descended from a relatively insignificant noble family of the German-Roman Empire, was crowned king in 1273. After the Babenberg family had died out, Rudolf announced his claims for the provinces of the empire which fell under the rule of the Czech king, Ottocar II. He asserted his claims by several successful military campaigns (1276, 1278). In 1282 he gave his sons Austria and Styria as feudal fiefs, and by doing so, he founded the new empire of the Habsburgs along the Danube valley. ZSA