Upon the death of Otto von Perchtoldsdorf in 1286, the control passed to the House of Habsburg, uncontested rulers over the Duchy of Austria since the 1278 Battle on the Marchfeld. During this late medieval period, the settlement was granted market rights and Perchtoldsdorf Castle was used as a "wittum" residence for the widowed duchess-consorts of the Habsburg dynasty, including Beatrice of Hohenzollern, the widow of Duke Albert III of Austria. Duchess Beatrice established a hospital in 1407, now demolished, and an attached church which is still preserved.