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800th Anniversary of the Georgenberger Handfeste
Accompanied by a large entourage of nobility and servants, Dukes Leopold of Austria and Otokar of Styria met on August 17, 1186 in front of the little church on Mount Georgen on the River Enns. Indeed they chose this location on the Enns because it lay on the border between Austria and Styria. Known in the language of the day as the "Georgenberger Handfeste", the treaty made public at this meeting contained rights accorded to Styria. Above all else these rights gave the Duchy of Styria the freedom to maintain its independence, preventing it from being made subordinate to the Duchy of Austria. Also, Styrian officials had the right to appeal directly to the Emperor if their rights were violated by the Duke. Furthermore, the treaty outlined their right to freely sell their goods and that females have the right to inherit. They were free to give goods to churches and monasteries or build their own churches. They were freed from some taxes common in Austria and much more. The charter is by far Austria's oldest set of provincial laws, the essential points of which were maintained through to the 18th century and ratified by all provincial rulers. The Georgenberger Handfeste had at least as much significance to the Duchy of Styria as the Privilegium Minus did for the Austrian Duchy. This commemorative stamp presents a view of the Enns from the east and the seals of the parties to the treaty.
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