 Bernhard akanga atova mutongi pamusoro peDuchy yeCarinthia sezvo mukoma wake mukuru Duke Ulrich II akanga arwara zvakanyanya, zvichida nemaperembudzi, mushure mokunge apinda muCrusade ya1197. Mukukakavadzana pakati peimba yaHohenstaufen neWelf pamusoro pechigaro cheGerman mushure mekufa kwaMambo Henry VI, pakutanga akaenderera mberi nerutsigiro rwemukoma wake kune hama yavo yeHohenstaufen Philip weSwabia asi akatendeukira kuWelf Otto IV mushure mekuurayiwa kwaPhilip muna 1208 uye akapinda mukutorwa kwake korona muRoma. Bernhard zvakare akachinja rutivi kuenda kumuzukuru waPhilip Frederick II, uyo akanga asarudzwa Mambo weRoma muna 1212 uye pakupedzisira akakunda. 