Ottokar III of Styria
Encyclopedia
Ottokar III was Margrave
of Styria from 1129 until 1164. He was the son of Leopold the Strong
and father of Ottokar IV, the last of the dynasty of the Otakars
. His wife was Kunigunde of Chamb-Vohburg.
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
. From his uncle, the last Count of Formbach, he inherited the County of Pitten in 1158, which is today in Lower Austria
, but remained part of Styria until the 16th century. To improve the connection to that territory, he improved the road across the Semmering
, 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. He also founded the Augustinian
monastery
of Vorau Abbey and founded and supported the Carthusian
monastery of Seitz.
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.
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Styria from 1129 until 1164. He was the son of Leopold the Strong
Leopold of Styria
Leopold the Strong was Margrave of Styria from 1122 to 1129. He was the son of Margrave Ottokar II of Styria and Elisabeth of Austria from the Babenberg family. His wife was Sophie of Bavaria. He was succeeded by his son Margrave Ottokar III of Styria....
and father of Ottokar IV, the last of the dynasty of the Otakars
Otakars
The Otakars were a mediæval dynasty ruling the March of Styria from 1056 to 1192.The dynasty began with Otakar I, probably a son-in-law of Aribo , margrave of Pannonia. Otakar was Count of Steyr in the Traungau, in what is today Upper Austria. Together with Margrave Luitpold, he may have been...
. His wife was Kunigunde of Chamb-Vohburg.
From the Marburg
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
line of the Counts of Sponheim, he inherited parts of Lower Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
between the Drave and Save rivers in what is today Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. From his uncle, the last Count of Formbach, he inherited the County of Pitten in 1158, which is today in Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
, but remained part of Styria until the 16th century. To improve the connection to that territory, he improved the road across the Semmering
Semmering
For the town of the same name, see Semmering, Austria.Semmering is a mountain pass in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps connecting Lower Austria and Styria, between which it forms a natural border.-Location:...
, and he also erected a hospital in Spital am Semmering
Spital am Semmering
Spital am Semmering is a municipality in the district of Mürzzuschlag in Styria, Austria. It is home to the Stuhleck ski hill....
in 1160 and completed the colonization of the area around the Traisen
Traisen
Traisen can refer to:Germany:* Traisen, Germany , in Rhineland-Palatinate, GermanyAustria:* Traisen , a river in Lower Austria, Austria** Inzersdorf ob der Traisen, Inzersdorf...
and Gölsen
Gölsen
The Gölsen is a tributary of the Traisen that is located in the Lower Austrian region of Mostviertel.The river begins in Hainfeld with the merging of the Fliedersbach and the Ramsaubach . It then flows through the communities of Hainfeld, Rohrbach an der Gölsen, and Sankt Veit an der Gölsen, before...
rivers.
Ottokar exercised seigniorage
Seigniorage
Seigniorage can have the following two meanings:* Seigniorage derived from specie—metal coins, is a tax, added to the total price of a coin , that a customer of the mint had to pay to the mint, and that was sent to the sovereign of the political area.* Seigniorage derived from notes is more...
over natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
of his realm, extended territorial rule and minted his own coins. He also founded the Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Vorau Abbey and founded and supported the Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
monastery of Seitz.
From the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
, he brought Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
craftsmen to Styria.
He was buried in his foundation at Seitz, but his body was later transferred to Rein Abbey
Rein Abbey, Austria
Rein Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Rein near Gratwein, Styria, in Austria. Also known as the "Cradle of Styria" , it is the oldest surviving Cistercian community in the world.- History :...
in Styria.