Complex sentence: Originally from Bamberg in Franconia, now northern Bavaria, the Babenbergs or Babenberger ruled Austria as counts of the march and dukes from 976-1248, before the rise of the house of Habsburg.
Split into simpler sentences: Originally from Bamberg in Franconia, now northern Bavaria, the Babenbergs or Babenberger ruled Austria as margraves and subsequently dukes in 976-1248. BABENBERG, the name of a Franconian family which held the duchy of Austria before the rise of the house of Habsburg.