Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria

Who was Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria?

Ottokar IV was Margrave of Styria and Duke from 1180 onwards, when Styria, previously a margraviate subordinated to the duchy of Bavaria, was raised to the status of an independent duchy. He was the son of Ottokar III of Styria and the last of the dynasty of the Ottakars. He entered into the Georgenberg Pact with Leopold V of Austria in 1186, which brought Styria under joint rule with Austria after his death in 1192. The childless and deathly ill Ottokar, who had contracted leprosy while on crusade, was to give his duchy to Leopold and to his son Frederick under the stipulation that Austria and Styria would henceforth remain undivided.