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How did Rudolf I of Habsburg make the Habsburg dynasty powerful?

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Map of Europe about 800 CE showing the extent of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne in light purple, covering much of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, and neighboring regions. Areas inhabited by Slavic peoples who were tributary to Charlemagne are shaded in a darker purple to the east of the Frankish kingdom, including groups such as the Bohemians, Moravians, and Croats. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring kingdoms are labeled for context.
Holy Roman Empire

Rudolf I of Habsburg established the foundation for the future power of the Habsburg dynasty primarily by securing strategic territories and leveraging his position as German king.1

After his election in 1273, Rudolf challenged the dominance of Otakar II of Bohemia, who had amassed significant lands including Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola. Rudolf successfully defeated Otakar at the Battle of Dürnkrut in 1278, effectively ending the Bohemian king's control over these regions.123

In 1282, Rudolf obtained permission from the German princes to grant these recovered territories to his sons, Albert and Rudolf. By investing his sons with Austria and Styria, he created the territorial nucleus of the Habsburgs' future influence. Additionally, Rudolf strengthened his dynasty's standing through strategic marriages, including alliances with the houses of Zollern-Hohenberg-Haigerloch and Burgundy, which helped expand his property and counter French influence on his western frontier. Through these actions, he transformed the Habsburgs from counts into major territorial rulers within the Holy Roman Empire.14