The conflict mixed with the existing Utrecht factionalism between the Lichtenbergers and Lokhorsten (called 'Gunterlingen' until 1413) and with the Hook and Cod wars raging in the County of Holland.

[5] As the eventual winner was usually already quite old and also passed away relatively soon again, the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht experienced many more power transfers than the realms surrounding it, where due to the principle of hereditary succession a deceased count or duke was usually succeeded by his much younger son.

[5] Moreover, since the 14th century, the Popes had been trying to increasingly overrule the chapters by ignoring their choices, and claiming the exclusive right to appoint all bishops themselves.

Previously the magistrate had adopted an act that stipulated all interested parties should be outside the city during the election in order to reduce any pressure they might exert on the electors.

[6] Pope Martin V was very unsatisfied with the results so he ignored the election of Rudolf and instead set his sights on Raban of Helmstatt, the prince-bishop of Speyer, whom he appointed as the bishop of Utrecht on 7 July 1424.

[6] Raban (Latin: Rhabanus) himself actually didn't really feel like it: he was already quite old, and knew that Rudolf could count on the loyalty of most Utrechters, and had already gained hold of most cities and fortresses in the bishopric, meaning that it would require a tough war to secure the see.

[6] Zweder had the towns of Rhenen and Amersfoort occupied, and announced that he intended to have himself sworn in inside the city of Utrecht on 21 August; he convinced the magistrate to cooperate through nice promises.

[1][2] Their political adversaries, the Lokhorsten, had been banished from the capital, and members of the powerful Utrecht guilds rallied to either faction as the crisis escalated.

[1][2] On the occasion of his inauguration on 21 August 1425, Zweder van Culemborg permitted some banished Lokhorsten to return to the city, as had been agreed with the magistrate in the spirit of reconciliation.

[6] The mayor of Utrecht, the Lichtenberg-aligned Beernt Proys [nl], was murdered by pro-Lokhorst butchers with their knives as he lay ill in bed in his own house.

[2] In 1428 a ceasefire was agreed, and in 1429 Guelders concluded a separate peace with Rudolf; meanwhile Arnold still had a tough war against Jülich–Berg on his hands and couldn't afford to maintain his intervention.

There was little Zweder could do about the situation; he had retreated Overijssel, and as a meagre consolation, Eugenius appointed him as 'titular' bishop of Caesarea[9] (a destroyed city in the Holy Land which the Crusaders had already abandoned two centuries earlier).