Otto III, Count of Burgundy facts for kids

Otto III (born around 1218 – died June 19, 1248) was an important ruler from the House of Andechs. He was the Count of Burgundy starting in 1231. He also became the last Duke of Merania in 1234, ruling until he passed away.

Otto's Family and Early Life

Otto was the only son of Duke Otto I of Merania and Countess Beatrice II of Burgundy. When his mother died in 1231, he became the Count of Burgundy. A few years later, in 1234, his father passed away, and Otto became the Duke of Andechs and Merania.

In the same year, he married Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Count Albert IV of Tyrol. Otto and Elizabeth did not have any children.

Because Otto was still young when he became a ruler, he had a guardian. This guardian was Bishop Ekbert of Bamberg, who was also a relative from the Andechs family. Bishop Ekbert helped Otto rule until 1236, when Otto was old enough to rule on his own.

Otto's Time as a Ruler

When Otto became an adult, he decided to let King Theobald I of Navarre manage the County of Burgundy (also known as Franche-Comté). This allowed Otto to focus on protecting his lands in Bavaria. He had to fight against another powerful family, the House of Wittelsbach, who were dukes in Bavaria.

During these struggles, Otto lost some important positions. He lost his role as a vogt (a type of protector or administrator) for Tegernsee Abbey. He also lost his family's original home in Andechs. However, he managed to keep control of Innsbruck. In 1239, he made Innsbruck an official town and asked his father-in-law, Count Albert IV of Tyrol, to manage it.

Later, in 1242, Otto gave Franche-Comté to Duke Hugh IV of Burgundy as a promise for a loan. This means he used it as a guarantee, like putting something valuable up for collateral.

Later Years and Legacy

In his final years, Otto focused on his family's lands in Franconia. At this time, there was a big disagreement between Emperor Frederick II and Pope Innocent IV. Otto chose to support his lord, the bishop of Bamberg. Because of this choice, the Emperor put an Imperial ban on him. An Imperial ban meant he lost many of his possessions and rights.

Like his ancestors, Otto supported the Cistercian monastery in Langheim, Franconia. He was buried there after he died in 1248. He also gave city rights to the nearby town of Lichtenfels in 1231.

Since Otto did not have any children, his sister Adelaide and her husband, Count Hugh of Chalon, took over as rulers of Burgundy. The Duchy of Merania, which Otto ruled, ended when he died. The entire House of Andechs family line ended a few years later, in 1251, when Otto's uncle, Patriarch Berthold of Aquileia, passed away.

See also

In Spanish: Otón III, conde palatino de Borgoña para niños