He belonged to the absolute elite of society - grandson and nephew of emperors, half-brother of a king, brother of dukes and bishops - and a prominent position in society had been chosen for him by his family. However, he initially fled to a monastery, choosing the path of spirit and prayer, and became one of the great thinkers of the Middle Ages. This is the fascinating biography of Bishop Otto of Freising (1112 - 1158). The young Otto was sent to Paris to acquire the skills needed to master the secular and spiritual affairs of the time. Yet, he saw through the world where pope and emperor were in conflict with their followers and wanted to free himself from it all: "Often I have pondered long and hard about the change and instability of earthly things, their transience.".