Manegold, the youngest son of Count Diepold of Berg in Upper Swabia and of Gisela of Andechs, was destined for a religious career.
At the same time he was also put in charge of Kremsmünster Abbey in Austria, a role he held onto from 1183 to 1206, although not without opposition.
He then became abbot of the Bavarian monastery of Tegernsee between 1190 and 1206, and gave up the abbacy of St. George's in 1193 or 1194.
Against the background of the pro-Hohenstaufen attitude of the Counts of Berg, Manegold was much involved in the political activities of the Holy Roman Empire and met with Emperor Henry VI (1190–1197), King Philip (1198–1208), Emperor Otto IV (1198–1215/1218) and Emperor Frederick II (1212/1215–1250).
As a bishop he was interested in the territorial expansion of his bishopric, and had the city of Passau fortified in 1209.