1444 Zurich is besieged by the confederates. Charles VII of France sends to her aid wild bands of the Armagnacs under command of the dauphin Louis. They slaughter the confederates, who make a heroic defence at Sankt Jacob on the Birs before Bâle. 1450 Peace is concluded. Zurich is forced to renounce her alliance with Austria. 1452 The Swiss League concludes treaty of friendship with France. A new class of allies, the associate districts (_Zugwandte Orte_), begins to gather round the league. 1458 The league forms an alliance with Rapperschwyl. Sigismund, duke of Austria, irritated by its loss declares war. 1460 The confederates overrun the Austrian Thurgau. This results in the second accession of common bailiwicks. The art of printing is established at Bâle. Founding of the University of Bâle. Material and artistic culture flourishes. 1461 Sigismund gives up Thurgau which comes under the protection of the confederates. 1463 The confederates renew the French treaty with Louis XI. 1467 Zurich purchases Winterthur from Sigismund. The league makes a treaty of friendship with Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy. 1468 The Swiss lay siege to Waldshut. Sigismund buys them off. 1469 Sigismund obtains the protection and financial aid of Charles the Bold of Burgundy. He gives as security Alsace, the Waldshut, and the Black Forest. The alliance of Charles with Sigismund violates the treaty of 1467 and incenses the Swiss. Charles the Bold commits the mortgaged lands to Peter von Hagenbach, as vogt. His severity is complained of by the Swiss. 1470 Louis XI of France makes a treaty with the Swiss to secure their neutrality. 1471 The three leagues of the Grisons confirm an earlier alliance. 1473 Sigismund becomes the ally of Louis, who aims to reconcile Sigismund and the Swiss and turn them against Charles the Bold. 1474 The confederates attempt in vain to get redress from Charles the Bold for the wrongs done by Hagenbach to their friends in Alsace. As the result of the efforts of Louis XI, the Everlasting Compact (_Ewige Richtung_) is signed at Constance. By it Sigismund renounces all Austrian claims on the lands of the confederates and they agree to support him. The freedom of the Swiss Confederation from the Habsburgs is now formally established. The Swiss and Sigismund join a league of the Alsatian and Rhine cities. Hagenbach is put to death with the connivance of Bern. The confederates at the instance of Sigismund declare war against Charles. Bern takes the lead in westward aggression. Héricourt is taken by the confederates.