Lega dei popoli
In ancient Italy, the Etruscan "Lega dei popoli" was a league comprising several towns — usually, but not necessarily, twelve — located in the areas that today are known as Tuscany, western Umbria and northern Lazio.History
While not being a political organization proper, a league was chiefly a confederation of towns resembling the Greek city states. The members of most important league were: Velch, Felathri, Velzna, Veii, Vetluna, Arretium, Perusna, Curtun, Tarchna, Caisra, Clevsin and Rusellae. Strabo refers to them as "twelve peoples of Etruria". The kings of these towns used to meet in the Fanum Voltumnae area at Volsinii, near Lake Bolsena.
In addition to the aforementioned dodecapoli, two other Etruscan leagues were founded: one in Campania, the main city of which was Capua, and one in the Po Valley, which included Spina and Atria.
In modern usage, "Lega dei popoli" is also an expression adopted by the Italian voluntary associations, NGOs and political movements that support the creation of a confederation following the example of the Etruscan civilization in ancient Italy.
