 He was substantially involved in the Appenzell Wars as the city refused to pay homage to him, and the Appenzellers, his subjects, even refused to pay taxes.Due to the price decline of grain after a disastrous plague epidemic, Kuno had been obliged to drastically increase taxes in order to balance the loss of revenue.He first aligned with cities at Lake Constance that were devoted to him and later with Duke Frederick IV of Austria in order to put an end to the population's attempts at freedom.