Linz on the Danube, a royal market and toll place since the Raffelstetten toll ordinance (902-906), with its castle on the site of Roman Lentia.
In the 12th century it was held by the lords of Linz as Passau's vassals under Bavarian overlordship, and then probably by the Haunsbergs. It is a market growing into a town, not yet a Babenberg place: Leopold VI buys it from Gottschalk II in 1205-06 and lays out the town in 1207.
Who he is
- Name
- Gottschalk (II) of Haunsberg
- Title
- Lord of Linz, holding it as a fief of the bishop of Passau
- Since
- The Haunsbergs probably followed the lords of Linz as Passau's vassals after about 1150 (date of Gottschalk's succession not pinned)
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- Free lords named from the Haunsberg north of Salzburg.
- Confidence
- medium
de.wikipedia Linzer Schloss (the Haunsbergs held the Passau fief of Linz until Leopold VI acquired the town and castle from Gottschalk II in 1205-06); de.wikipedia Linz (Linz under the Bavarian dukes until 1210).
Overlord
The bishop of Passau (direct lord of the fief), under the overlordship of the duke of Bavaria
What it holds
- Linz castle
- The market and the Danube landing at Linz
How it was acquired
Passau fief.
Allies and rivals
Neighbour of Passau's castle at Ebelsberg and of the Styrian Traungau.
How things stand that morning
Held by Gottschalk of Haunsberg as Passau's vassal on 1 January 1200; the ground counts as Bavarian (de.wikipedia: Linz under the Bavarian dukes until 1210).
Wealth
The Linz market and Danube landing; the Linz toll becomes one of the Austrian dukes' chief incomes only later.
Military
Linz castle.
Threats
- The duke of Austria's wish to buy it
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1205-06 (beyond 1200)Gottschalk II sells Linz to Leopold VI.Depends on: Gottschalk's need and Passau's consent Stopped by: a Bavarian or Passau counter-move
Places of note
- Linz castle: Castle on the site of Roman Lentia
Where the sources disagree
- Realm: we give the Linz fief realm passau because the bishop is the direct lord; de.wikipedia says Linz was under the Bavarian dukes until 1210. The GM may prefer bavaria.
Evidence: Holder inferred from the 1205-06 sale; no 1200 document seen.
On the map: Small core only.
Primary sources for Passau (Wolfger)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Schäftlarn and the Bavarian annals (12th and 13th centuries). Brief Bavarian annals. Read online
- The Austrian and Salzburg annals (kept in the 12th and 13th centuries, with continuations to the late 13th century). A family of monastic annals from Austria, Styria and Salzburg, printed together. Read online
- Bavarian monuments: the charters of the Bavarian monasteries and bishoprics (charters from the 8th century onward, published 1763 to 1916). The great charter series of Bavaria, arranged by monastery and bishopric. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.