The Eidgenossen, or Swiss Confederation, when asked in 1488 by Emperor Frederick to also join the Swabian League, had flatly refused: they had seen no reason to join an alliance designed to further Habsburg interests, and they are wary of this new, relatively closely knit and powerful alliance that has arisen on their northern frontier.

Furthermore, they resent the strong aristocratic element in the Swabian League, so different from their own organization, which has grown over the last two hundred years liberating themselves from precisely such an aristocratic rule.