Count Otto IV of Ballenstedt was a nobleman from the House of Ascania, a prominent family in medieval Germany. He was born around 1170 and became the Count of Ballenstedt, a title that reflected his authority over the region. Otto IV played a significant role in the political landscape of the time, often engaging in alliances and conflicts with other noble families. Otto IV is also known for his connections to the Holy Roman Empire and his involvement in the power struggles of the era. His lineage contributed to the rise of the Duchy of Saxony, as his descendants continued to influence the region's governance and territorial disputes in the following centuries.