Otto became the regent of the Electorate of the Palatinate and guardian of his nephew Louis IV after his brother Louis III returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem seriously ill and died soon after.
Otto sai Pfalzi kuurvürstkonna regendiks ja oma vennapoja Ludwig IV eestkostjaks pärast seda, kui tema vend Ludwig III tuli palverännakult Jeruusalemma tagasi tõsiselt haigena ja varsti pärast seda suri.