The Free imperial cities in the south of the Holy Roman Empire aimed towards defending their liberties against the territorial expanding states of Bavaria, Austria and Württemberg.

The trigger for the war was a pact between the Swabian League of Cities and the archbishop of Salzburg, Pilgrim von Puchheim, both antagonists of Bavaria.

German king Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia declared a Reichskrieg (ger.

Originating from a regional conflict, the war developed into a decision of the future role of king, nobility and cities in the Holy Roman Empire.

The conflicts couldn't be settled by this unjust peace and 1390 a new league of cities was founded.