At the time of his father's death in 1382 Bernard was a minor and was placed under the care of his uncle Władysław Opolczyk and his older brothers Jan Kropidło and Bolko IV.

As additional security, the districts of Olesno and Lubliniec were promised to the Dukes of Opole as fiefs; but, in absence of male heirs, they reverted to Spytka II's daughters as a dowry.

The dispute was to be settled on the Prague court, where, for unknown reasons, on 2 July 1417 Bolko IV and Bernard received an adverse ruling and were obliged to give all the inheritance of Władysław Opolczyk to the Dukes of Żagań.

In any event, during the next years and until the ruling was cancelled by the Emperor Sigismund on 16 September 1435, Bernard and Bolko IV have to work closely with the House of Luxembourg in order to gain the Imperial favor.

After Bolko III's sons assumed the government over Opole, was promised to them the possession over Sieradz and part of Greater Poland, but the disputes between the Emperor Sigismund and the King Władysław II Jagiełło leave this agreement only in paper.

In order to stop the inminet advance of the Hussite troops, Bernard and other Silesian rulers made a defensive agreement with Sigismund Korybut (nephew of King Władysław II Jagiełło) in Strzelin on 14 February 1427; however, this treaty never was effective because soon after Sigismund was imprisoned, so in 1428 Bernard and his brother Bolko IV made the peace with the Hussites, but this doesn't provide a complete security to their domains.