Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ottokar IV
Duke of Styria
Seal of Ottokar IV
Margrave from 1180: Duke	1164–1192
Predecessor	Ottokar III
Successor	Leopold V of Austria
Born	19 August 1163
Died	9 May 1192(1192-05-09) (aged 28)
Buried	Žiče Charterhouse (Seitz)
Family	Otakars
Father	Ottokar III of Styria
Mother	Kunigunde of Vohburg

Ottokar IV (born August 19, 1163 – died May 8, 1192) was an important ruler from the Otakar family. He started as the Margrave of Styria in 1164. Later, in 1180, Styria became an independent Duchy, and Ottokar became its first Duke. Before this, Styria was a smaller territory linked to Bavaria.

Early Life and Rule

Ottokar IV was the only son of Margrave Ottokar III of Styria (who lived from 1124 to 1164) and his mother, Kunigunde. Kunigunde was the daughter of a Bavarian margrave named Diepold III. She was also the sister-in-law of the powerful Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

When Ottokar IV's father died in 1164 during a crusade, Ottokar was still very young. He was raised by his mother, Kunigunde, and important officials called ministeriales from Styria. His family owned large lands stretching from the Danube River to the Mur River. Around the mid-1100s, the Otakar family moved their main home from Steyr to the Castle Hill in Graz.

Becoming Duke of Styria

As a young ruler, Ottokar IV had some disagreements with his neighbors, including the Babenberg dukes of Austria and Duke Herman of Carinthia from the Spanheim family.

With support from his mother's brother, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Ottokar worked hard to protect the border of the Holy Roman Empire in the east. This border was important for defense against the Kingdom of Hungary. He had his home in Graz rebuilt and ordered the building of the Fürstenfeld fortress around 1170.

In 1180, a big meeting called the Imperial Diet took place in Gelnhausen. At this meeting, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa removed the rebellious Bavarian duke, Henry the Lion, from power. The emperor then separated Styria from Bavaria and made Ottokar a duke. This meant Ottokar now ruled Styria as an independent duchy.

The Georgenberg Pact

Ottokar IV was the first Duke of Styria from the Otakar family, but he was also the last. He became very ill and did not have any children. Because of his illness, he knew he needed to plan for who would rule Styria after him.

With the emperor's approval, Ottokar made an agreement in 1186 called the Georgenberg Pact. He met with Duke Leopold V of Austria in Enns. They agreed that Ottokar would give his duchy to Leopold and Leopold's son, Frederick. A key part of this agreement was that Austria and Styria would always stay united under one ruler.

This agreement meant that after Ottokar's death in 1192, Styria would be ruled together with the Duchy of Austria.

Burial

Ottokar IV was first buried in Žiče Charterhouse, a monastery founded by his father. Later, in 1827, his remains were moved to Rein Abbey. His gravestone, which shows him full-length, was moved to the church of St. Heinrich am Bachern. Today, this church is known as the Church of Sveta Areha in Frajhajm, Slovenia.