The Gutes of Gotland paid taxes to the King of Sweden, though the population of Visby was diverse and included people of Ruthenian descent, Danes and Germans. In 1280 the city of Visby had joined the Wendish City-alliance along with Riga, Lübeck, Tallinn and other large population centers from northern Europe, further separating Visby from the Gutnish countryside. Antagonism between the city dwellers and the Gutnish country yeomen heightened; the latter were defeated in battle in 1288, despite the aid of knights from Estonia.