Battle of Schosshalde

Bern, which was heavily in debt, refused to pay the taxes. Instead, the city turned to an anti-Habsburg alliance, which included Burgundy and Savoy for protection, both of which were eager to expand their influence in Swabia as well. Bern would provide military aid to Burgundy on multiple occasions. In 1288, Rudolf decided to finally crush Bern for good with a strong army. However, Bern was a very well protected city. Both in June and August, Rudolf tried to capture the city, attempting an assault in September. However, both attempts failed.^[4]

After a year of failing to successfully capture the city, King Rudolf abandoned the siege, and left his son, Duke Rudolf II of Austria, to assume command. Rudolf II sent an army to Bern and prepared an ambush outside of the city while harassing the landscape in an attempt to draw out a sortie. Habsburg armies burned down farms and buildings. 300-400 mounted horsemen were then secretly planted in the hilled forests of Schosshalde, ready to ambush any Bernese soldiers that chased after the Habsburg armies.^[4]

Rudolf II then ordered a "sham" assault on the lower gates of Bern. The plan worked, and a large detachment of Bernese soldiers left the walls to fight the Habsburgs outside the city. The Bernese soldiers were disorganized in their pursuit of the Habsburg soldiers, and not prepared for the impending ambush. The Habsburg cavalry emerged and routed the Bernese men, killing around 100 men, along with taking another 150 men prisoner.^[4] Amongst the dead was Count Ludwig of Homberg, a relative of King Rudolf. Following this defeat, the remainder of Bern's garrison agreed to surrender, and accepted Habsburg demands.^[5] The city was also plundered.

The following negotiations were held in the city of Baden. Bern was forced to accept taxes and reparation payments. Bern was also to build an altar for Ludwig of Homberg. Rudolf II also wished to dismantle Bern's defensive walls, which had given the Habsburgs much trouble. However, Rudolf I prevented it, and allowed the walls to stand.^[4] Despite being defeated, Bern was allowed to retain its status as an imperial city and its independence would be confirmed by King Adolf I in 1293. Thus, Bern's expansion in Switzerland would continue.

Rudolf I would continue to spread his influence in Switzerland as well. He acquired ecclesiastical posts in Glarus for his sons, integrated Rapperswil, and gained property in St. Gallen and Murbach.^[5] These acquisitions, along with the previous Habsburg lands in Swabia, would form the collective lands of Further Austria, a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy.

Following the death of Rudolf I, a group of Swiss states agreed to form the Swiss Confederacy in 1291, in order to protect themselves from surrounding threats, such as the Habsburgs. The Swiss would fight the Habsburgs on multiple occasions, culminating in the Battle of Laupen, which led to Bern joining the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1353.^[6]