A league of towns (in German: Städtebund) is an alliance of two or more, usually geographically close, towns and/or cities for the protection of their political and/or economic interests.
The term predominantly refers to medieval leagues of towns (since the 13th century), which usually became important economic, political and even religious factors in their respective countries, but it is also used for the ancient world and for modern town alliances.
Examples:
Read more about League Of Towns: Middle Ages, Twentieth Century, Twenty-first Century
Famous quotes containing the words league and/or towns:
“He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 5:19-23.
“The incessant repetition of the same hand-work dwarfs the man, robs him of his strength, wit, and versatility, to make a pin- polisher, and buckle-maker, or any other specialty; and presently, in a change of industry, whole towns are sacrificed like ant-hills, when cotton takes the place of linen, or railways of turnpikes, or when commons are inclosed by landlords.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)