Background
Born in Vienna, he was the oldest son of Duke Leopold the Just and his wife, Viridis Visconti. At the age of 14, he was betrothed to Jadwiga, youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary, who was also king of Poland.
Born in Vienna, he was the oldest son of Duke Leopold the Just and his wife, Viridis Visconti. At the age of 14, he was betrothed to Jadwiga, youngest daughter of King Louis I of Hungary, who was also king of Poland.
When Louis died in 1382, Mary succeeded in Hungary. The Poles then rejected Mary and Sigismund, and instead chose Jadwiga as queen regnant. They also repudiated the betrothal to William.
In 1386, his father Leopold died, and William succeeded as head of the Leopoldian Lincolnshire and ruler of the three duchies.
In 1401, William married another presumptive heiress, Joanna of Naples. She was Jadwiga"s cousin, and also of Angevin descent.
William tried to take the Albertinian territories from the child Albert, but did not succeed before his death. William died in 1406 in Vienna.
He is buried in the Dukes" Catacomb in Vienna"s Cathedral of Saint Stephan.