Editing History of Austria (section)

==== Rudolph IV and the ''Privilegium Maius'' (1358–1365) ====
[[Rudolf IV of Austria|Rudolf IV]] the Founder (1358–1365) was the first to claim the title of Archduke of Austria, through the [[Privilegium Maius]] of 1359, which was actually a [[forgery]] and not recognized outside of Austria till 1453. However it would have placed him on a level footing with the other [[Prince-electors]] of the Holy Roman Empire. Rudolph was one of the most active rulers of his time, initiating many measures and elevating the importance of the City of Vienna.

At that time Vienna was ecclesiastically subordinate to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Passau|Diocese of Passau]], which Rudolph subverted by founding [[St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna|St Stephen's Cathedral]] and appointing the [[Provost (religion)|provost]] as the [[Archchancellor]] of Austria. He also founded the [[University of Vienna]]. He improved the economy and established a stable currency, the Vienna Penny. When he died in 1365 he was without issue and the succession passed to his brothers jointly under the Rudolfinian House Rules.

In 1363, the [[County of Tyrol]] was acquired by Rudolph IV from [[Margaret, Countess of Tyrol|Margaret of Tyrol]]. Thus Austria was now a complex country in the Eastern Alps, and these lands are often referred to as the Habsburg Hereditary Lands, as well as simply Austria, since the Habsburgs also began to accumulate lands far from their Hereditary Lands.{{Sfn|Kann|1980|loc=ch. 1}}