The death of Ulrich III of Ferrette in Basel on 11 March 1324 marks a decisive turning point in the history of the Haute-Alsace. The heritage which he bequeaths to his two daughters encompasses the Sundgau, the south of Vosges, the gateway to Burgundy and the northern fringe of the Jura. Considering his advantage, Leopold I reacts to the news of the death of Ulrich III quickly. He sends his younger unmarried brother Albert to Joan of Montbéliard, the widow of Ulrich III, so that he can win the hand of Joan, the oldest daughter of Ulrich III. The negotiations are successful and on March 17 she affixes her seal in Thann to the agreement with Albert. So Albert obtains the only compact political unit in Alsace for the Habsburgs domain. In addition, the children of Albert and Joan of Ferrette are the only ones who continue the Habsburg lineage since none of his brothers have any descendants. Joan died in Scheibbs (Lower Austria) and is buried together with her husband in the "Kartause Gaming" near Scheibbs.