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Who were Philip of Swabia and Otto of Brunswick?

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Innocent III Innocent III, fresco in the Abbey of San Benedetto, Subiaco, Italy.

Following the death of Emperor Henry VI in 1197, a succession crisis emerged in the Holy Roman Empire, leading to a decade of civil war between two primary claimants:

Philip of Swabia: A member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and brother of the late emperor, Philip was elected German king in 1198 by princes who favored the Hohenstaufen line. Although initially excommunicated by Pope Innocent III, he was eventually recognized by the pope in 1208 before being murdered later that year by a political rival.1234
Otto of Brunswick: A member of the rival Welf dynasty and a son of Henry the Lion, Otto was raised at the English court of his uncle, Richard I. Supported by an anti-Hohenstaufen faction and English financial aid, he was elected as an anti-king in 1198. While he initially gained papal support, his subsequent refusal to honor territorial agreements led to his excommunication and eventual deposition following his defeat at the Battle of Bouvines.135