Otto I, a member of the House of Andechs, was Duke of Merania from 1204 until his death.
Background
He was born about 1180 the eldest son of Duke Berthold of Merania and his wife Agnes of Rochlitz. On the death of his father in 1204, he succeeded him as Duke of Merania, while the margravial titles in Istria and Carniola were inherited by his younger brother Henry World War II On 21 June 1208, Otto married Beatrice of Hohenstaufen, daughter of late Count Otto I of Burgundy.
Career
However, the position of the Andechs dynasty was significantly weakened. Otto"s brother Henry II was accused of having been involved in Philip"s assassination and his estates were seized by Duke Ludwig I of Bavaria. Otto assumed the rule in the County of Burgundy, which was contested by the local Counts of Auxonne and in the long-time struggle, Otto even had to give the Burgundian lands in pawn to Count Theobald IV of Champagne.
In 1222, he became embroiled in a dispute with Gerard I de Rougemont, the Archbishop of Besançon over the building of a castle where Otto I of Burgundy had vowed would never be built.
When Otto II of Burgundy refused to destroy the castle or explain his actions at the archiepiscopal court, he was excommunicated and his lands placed under interdict. There on 20 October 1223, he issued five charters in which he made lavish donations for the sake of his soul.