 At this time, the eight cantons gradually increased their influence on neighbouring cities and regions through additional alliances.Individual cantons concluded pacts with Fribourg, Appenzell, Schaffhausen, the abbot and the city of St. Gallen, Biel, Rottweil, Mulhouse and others.These allies (known as the "Zugewandte Orte") became closely associated with the confederacy, but were not accepted as full members.