On 1 May 1351, the citizens of Zürich have to swear allegiance before representatives of the cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, Uri and Unterwalden, the other members of the Swiss Confederacy.

Thus, Zürich becomes the fifth member of the Confederacy, which is at this time a loose confederation of de facto independent states.

Zürich is the presiding canton of the Diet from 1468 to 1519.

This authority is the executive council and lawmaking body of the confederacy, from the Middle Ages until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848.