The Confederates distinguished themselves from similar leagues elsewhere in the Empire by their success in undermining rule by the nobility.

Their claims against dynastic rulers - chiefly the Habsburgs - were not always well founded, but the members generally backed each other up. As at Morgarten in 1315, so at Sempach near Lucerne in 1386 and Näfels near Glarus in 1388.

These latter two victories dealt a blow to Habsburg claims in central Switzerland from which they never recovered.

The battle of Sempach produced one of Switzerland's national heroes, Arnold von Winkelried, who broke the enemy lines by throwing himself upon their bristling spears and thus cleared a way for the Confederates who then put them to rout. Whether the story is true or not is not known: it was first mentioned in a ballad of 1533.

Winkelried's heroic sacrifice inspired more than just his fellow countrymen. Here is how the Scottish author and poet Walter Scott (1771-1832) put into verse his last words and his death:

"'I have a virtuous wife at home,
A wife and infant son:
I leave them to my country's care,
The field shall yet be won!'
He rushed against the Austrian band,
In desperate career,
And with his body, breast, and hand,
Bore down each hostile spear;
Four lances splintered on his crest,
Six shivered in his side,
Still on the serried files he pressed,
He broke their ranks and died!"