Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg)

Frederick I
Duke of Austria
Frederick I in the German Crusade of 1197, Babenberger Stammbaum, Klosterneuburg Monastery, 1489–1492
Duke	1195–1198
Predecessor	Leopold V
Successor	Leopold VI
Family	House of Babenberg
Father	Leopold V
Mother	Helena of Hungary
Born	1175
Died	16 April 1198(1198-04-16)

Frederick I (German: Friedrich I. von Österreich, c. 1175 – 16 April 1198), known as Frederick the Catholic (German: Friedrich der Katholische), was the Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198. He was a member of the House of Babenberg.

Frederick the Catholic was born in 1175, the son of Duke Leopold V of Austria and Helena of Hungary. In 1192, he was enfeoffed with his father with Austria and Styria, while the younger Leopold VI had no claim. On Leopold V's death-bed, at Graz, he caught all by surprise by granting the Duchy of Styria to Leopold VI, with Emperor Henry VI's approval. None raised objections and thus, Austria and Styria remained divided. Frederick the Catholic, however, did not receive his enfeoffment by the Emperor personally, instead he sent Wolfger of Erla, Bishop of Passau on his behalf.

As the new Duke finally received his land in 1195, he still faced the restitution of the English hostages and the ransom money paid for Richard of England's life. Richard had been pressing hard for the return of both hostages and money, egged on by Adalbert III of Bohemia, Archbishop of Salzburg. The hostages were sent back at once, yet Frederick was unable to pay back the ransom money, despite returning the unspent portion. Upon the captivity of Richard Leopold V had forced Richard's niece Eleanor into a marriage to Frederick and Eleanor was on the way to Austria, but upon this situation the marriage was cancelled and she was also sent back. Frederick willingly took upon himself the penance of another Crusade, in order to restore Babenberg honor in the eyes of the Catholic Church. And on Easter, 31 March 1195, he took the cross at Bari. With Saladin dead, in 1193, the prospects were favorable. Yet by March 1196, Pope Celestine III had intervened, approving of Adalbert's conduct and severely censuring the late Duke Leopold V.