He also supported Pope Alexander III during his struggle with Frederick Barbarossa and also earned the favor of the latter despite Hartmann's views of the schism.
It was Salzburg's archbishop Conrad who decided to reform his priests in 1122 and chose Hartmann to lead a group of priests under the rule of Saint Augustine while being made prior of an Augustinian house at Herren-Chiemsee in 1128 and held that position until 1133.
[2][3] Pope Innocent II appointed him as the Bishop of Brixen in 1140 and as such received his episcopal consecration a short while after.
It was said he wore a cilice under a plain robe instead of full liturgical episcopal garments.
In 1133 Margrave Saint Leopold III called him to lead a group of Augustinians at Klosterneuburg and remained as such until 1140 when he was appointed as a bishop.