Background
He was the son of Leopold the Strong and father of Ottokar IV, the last of the dynasty of the Otakars.
He was the son of Leopold the Strong and father of Ottokar IV, the last of the dynasty of the Otakars.
From the Marburg line of the Counts of Sponheim, he inherited parts of Lower Styria between the Drave and Save rivers in what is today Slovenia. To improve the connection to that territory, he improved the road across the Semmering Pass, and he also erected a hospital in Spital am Semmering in 1160 and completed the colonization of the area around the Traisen and Gölsen rivers. Ottokar exercised seigniorage over natural resources of his realm, extended territorial rule and minted his own coins.
From the Second Crusade, he brought Byzantine craftsmen to Styria.
He was buried in his foundation at Seitz, but his body was later transferred to Rein Abbey in Styria.