The Rappenkrieg was a peasant uprising lasting from 1591–1594, involving a conflict between the Swiss city of Basel and the surrounding Prince-Bishopric of Basel. At issue was an increase in the rate of sales tax on wine and meat. After several years the conflict was ended through negitiations headed up by the Basel merchant turned politician Andreas Ryff. The name "Rappenkrieg" comes from the local word, Rappen, then as now the term for a low value coin: "Rappenkrieg" can be loosely translated as the "Pence/Cents War".