 Jacques had made the city of Bern—at that time on friendly terms with the House of Savoy—protector of his territories in Vaud during his absence.However, Bern joined the confederacy of the original 8 cantons, becoming an ally of King Louis XI through the "League of Constance", which further comprised Sigismund of Tirol, the town of Basel and the Alsatian towns of Strasbourg, Colmar, and Sélestat.The treaty stipulated mutual assistance in case of outside attack and was directed against the Duke of Burgundy.