Neither were the Austrians good neighbors to the Grisons.  The Tyrol and Engadine were constantly discussing and disputing about markets, privileges, and tolls.  Once, indeed, in 1476, the Tyrolese had marched armed into the valley of Engadine, but were driven back into their own country, through the narrow Pass of Finstermunz, with bloody heads.  Now there was a fresh cause of quarrel.  In the division of the Toggenburger inheritance, the rights of Toggenburg in the Ten Jurisdictions had fallen to the counts of Matsch, Sax, and Montfort, and afterward, 1478-1489, by purchase, to the ducal house of Austria.  Hence much trouble arose.

As the Grisons had equal cause with the Confederates to fear the power and purposes of Emperor Maximilian, the Gray League, 1497, and that of God’s House, 1498, made a friendly and defensive alliance with Zurich, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Zug, and Glarus.  The Ten Jurisdictions dared not join them for fear of Austria.

Then the Emperor restrained his anger no longer.  And, though already burdened with a heavy war in the Netherlands, he sent fresh troops into the Tyrol, and the forces of the Swabian League advanced and hemmed in Switzerland from the Grison Pass, near Luziensteig, between the Rhetian mountains and Germany, along the Lake of Constance and the Rhine, as far as Basel.

Then Switzerland and Rhetia were in great danger.  But the Grisons rose courageously to defend their freedom, as did all the Confederates.  The Sargansers, also, and the Appenzellers hastened to the Schollenberg; the banners of Valais, Basel, and Schaffhausen soon floated in view of the enemy.  No man stayed at home.

It was in February, 1499, that the strife began.  Then eight thousand imperialists entered the Grison territory of Munsterthal and Engadine; Louis of Brandis, the Emperor’s general, with several thousand men, surprised and held the Pass of Luziensteig, and, by the treachery of four burghers, the little city of Maienfeld.  But the Grisons retook the Luziensteig, and eight hundred Swabians here found their death; the rest fled to Balzers.  Then the Confederates passed the Rhine near Azmoos, and, with the Grisons, obtained a great victory near Treisen.  The Swabian nobility, with ten thousand soldiers, were posted near St. John’s, at Hochst and Hard, between Bregenz and Fussach.  Eight thousand Confederates killed nearly half of the enemy’s army, ascended as far as the forests of Bregenz, and imposed contributions on the country.  Ten thousand other Confederates passed victoriously over the Hegau, and in eight days burned twenty villages, hamlets, and castles.  Skirmish followed quickly upon skirmish, battle upon battle.