He was the son of Ulrich, a knight and steward, and Mechtilde of Rheinfelden. In 1316 he married Elisabeth Rych, the daughter of Ulrich of Solothurn. He was a squire, knight, and ministerialis (or unfree knight) in the service of Count Rudolf III of Nidau. He was the castellan in Erlach and owner of Reichenbach castle. He served as the guardian of the young Count of Nidau. According to Konrad Justinger, he led the Confederation armies in the Battle of Laupen in 1339. The Confederation victory against Freiburg army and feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and the Habsburgs. His victory led to Bern and Freiburg avoiding further warfare. Bern was drawn into closer association with the Swiss Confederation, becoming one of the Eight Cantons in 1353. Freiburg itself would become an ass