In 1145, he joined the other territorial dukes of Bohemia, Conrad II of Znojmo, Vratislaus II of Brno, and Otto III of Olomouc, to attack Jindřich (Henry) Zdík, bishop of Olomouc, and chase him from his diocese.
In 1147, while his elder brother Vladislav II went on the Second Crusade as far as Byzantium, Děpold governed Bohemia.
He ruled with a strong hand and prevented a seizure of power by the young Soběslav.
In 1167, he was joined by his nephew Frederick in leading a large force on behalf of King Vladislav.
On that expedition, many noblemen died of an epidemic (possible plague or malaria), including Rainald of Dassel and Welf VII.