He and his brother Rudolf VII concluded an inheritance contract in 1380, according to which the margraviate might be divided only among male descendants for two generations.

He had his family seat in the fortress of Hohenbaden high above the thermal baths of the town of Baden.

On 25 July 1415 for 80000 Rhenish guilders, he purchased Hachberg, Höhingen, Ober-Usenberg and the town of Sulzburg in Upper Baden from Otto II, the last margrave of the eponymous collateral line.

During this time he had many disputes with the towns of Strasbourg, Speyer and with king Ruprecht I.

On 15 September 1397, a Papal dispensation was granted to Bernard I and Anna, daughter of Count Louis XI of Oettingen, because they were related in the prohibited 4th degree of consanguinity.