Anna of Hohenberg (c. 1230–1281)

Holy Roman empress. Name variations: Gertrud of Hohenberg became Anna of Hohenberg at her crowning at Aachen in 1273. Born Gertrud of Hohenberg between 1230 and 1235; died on January 16, 1281, in Vienna; married Rudolph or Rudolf I of Habsburg (1218–1291), king of Germany (r. 1273), Holy Roman emperor (r. 1273–1291); children: Albert I (1250–1308), king of Germany (r. 1298–1308), Holy Roman emperor (r. 1298–1308, but not crowned); Hartmann (c. 1263–1281); Matilda of Habsburg (1251–1304, who married Louis II of Bavaria); Catherine of Habsburg (c. 1254–1282, who married Otto III of Bavaria); Hedwig of Habsburg (d. 1286, who married Otto of Brandenburg); Clementia of Habsburg (d. 1293, who married Charles Martel of Hungary); Judith (1271–1297, who married Wenceslas of Bohemia); Agnes of Habsburg (c. 1257–1322, who married Albert II of Saxony); Rudolf II (1270–1290, who married Agnes of Bohemia ).

Holy Roman Empress Anna of Hohenberg was the wife of Rudolf I and mother of eight. The first of the Habsburg line to achieve the crown, Rudolph and Anna established a political power base in Austria where the family ruled for nearly seven centuries until 1918. They skillfully arranged for the marriage of their offspring to other royal houses, thereby establishing a resourceful Habsburg tactic and solidifying the Habsburg claim to preeminence in European affairs. Later generations would coin the phrase that best described the House: "Oh fortunate Austria! You gain by marriage what others must get by war." Anna's son Albert's harsh rule gave rise to the legend of William Tell.