By this time it was recognized as a practically independent state, courted by the great powers of Europe.

Allied to this German Confederacy were two Romance-speaking states of a similar nature, the Confederacies of the Valais and of the Grisons.
The Swiss were then the one free people of Europe.

Republican government by popular magistrates prevailed in all the cantons.
Liberty was not quite democratic, for the cantons ruled several subject provinces, and in the cities a somewhat aristocratic electorate held power; nevertheless there was no state in Europe approaching the Swiss in self-government.

Though they were generally accounted the best soldiers of the {147} day, their military valor did not redound to their own advantage, for the hardy peasantry yielded to the solicitations of the great powers around them to enter into foreign, mercenary service.

The influential men, especially the priests, took pensions from the pope or from France or from other princes, in return for their labors in recruiting.