Years' War, but by then it was long deserted, and in that state was defended by rebelling subjects against an Imperial army. Before his conflict with Rudolf of Habsburg, Ottokar exacted influence over a number of relatives, allies and vassals in Germany, such as the Margraviate of Brandenburg — and spiritual principalities, including the Archbishopric of Salzburg and the Patriarchate of Aquileia. After the death of Konradin in 1268 he was an heir of the House of Hohenstaufen's claim to the imperial crown. However, he did not raise this claim, remaining content with informal influence in Germany. In 1267 he was appointed protector of the royal domains (of the Holy Roman Empire) east of the Rhine by the German king, Richard of Cornwall. He held this office till 1273. Ottokar is a significant figure in history and legend. In the Divine Comedy by Dante, Ottokar is seen outside the gates of Purgatory, in amiable companionship with his imperial rival Rudolf. He is also the protagonist of a tragedy by the 19th-century Austrian playwright Franz Grillparzer, titled König Ottokars Glück und Ende. There is a statue dedicated to him. References Sources Further reading Ochab, Jeremi K.; Škvrňák, Jan; Škvrňák, Michael (2022). "Detecting Ottokar II's 1248–1249 uprising and its instigators in co-witnessing networks". Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History. 1230s births 1278 deaths 13th-century dukes of Austria Ottokar 2 Ottokar 2 Monarchs killed in action Christians of the Prussian Crusade People from Městec Králové Ottokar 2 Ottokar 2 Margraviate of Moravia Austria–Czech Republic relations Czech Republic–Slovenia relations Croatia–Czech Republic relations Czech people of German descent Burials at St. Vitus Cathedral 13th-century Bohemian people 13th-century monarchs in Europe Czech military leaders