Firstly, the main protagonists on both sides were members of the princely House of Welf family and secondly, the warring parties simultaneously supported different pretenders to the imperial elections of the Holy Roman Empire.
Esiteks olid mõlema poole peamised eestvedajad vürstliku Welfide perekonna liikmed ja teiseks toetasid sõdivad pooled samaaegselt erinevaid pretendente Saksa-Rooma riigi keisri valimistel.