With the Eternal Alliance, the three cantons remained politically independent, with a central council to deal with disputes among the members, and with promises of military assistance. The cantons became "de facto" independent from the Habsburgs at the same time as the Habsburgs were attempting to expand into the Forest Cantons. When the century-old "Marchenstreit" between Schwyz and Einseideln Abbey led to a Schwyz attack on the Abbey in 1314, the Habsburgs, as patrons of the Abbey, had an opportunity for military action against them.