a measure of length, containing more or fewer geometrical paces, according to the different usages and customs of countries. A league at sea, where it is chiefly used by us, being a land measure mostly peculiar to the French and Germans, contains 3000 geometrical paces, or three English miles. The French league sometimes contains the same measure, and in some parts of France it consists of 3500 paces; the mean or common league consists of 2400 paces, and the little league of 2000. The Spanish leagues are larger than the French, 17 Spanish leagues making a degree, or 20 French leagues, or 69½ English statute miles. The Dutch and German leagues contain each four geographical miles. The Persian leagues are pretty near of the same extent with the Spanish; that is, they are equal to four Italian miles, which is pretty near to what Herodotus calls the length of the Perian 'patasang,' which contained 30 stadia, eight leagues thereof, according to Strabo, make a mile. The word comes from leuca or leuga, an ancient Gaulish word for an itinerary measure, and retained in that sense by the Romans. Some derive the word leuca from λευκός, "white;" as the Gauls, in imitation of the Romans, marked the spaces and distances of their roads with white stones.
LEAGUE also denotes an alliance or confederacy between princes and states for their mutual aid, either in attacking some common enemy, or in defending themselves. The word comes from ligā, which in the corrupt Latin was used for a confederacy: Qua quis cum alio ligatur.
Leagues, among the Greeks, were of three sorts:
1. Συμμαχία, Συμμαχία, or Επιμαχία, whereby both parties were obliged to cease from hostilities, without even molesting the allies of each other; 2. Επιμαχία, whereby they engaged to lend assistance to each other in case of invasion; and, 3. Συμμαχία, whereby they engaged to have the same friends and enemies, and to assist each other upon all occasions. All these leagues were confirmed with oaths, and imprecations, and sacrifices. The victims most generally used were a boar, ram, or goat, sometimes all three; and sometimes bulls and lambs. They cut out the testicles of the animal, and flayed upon them while they swore; and some of the hair of the victim was distributed to all present. Then they cut the animal's throat, which was called ἐξάρτησις τοῦ θηρίου, in Latin, ferire fætus. This done, they repeated their oaths and imprecatious, calling the gods to witness the honesty of their intentions. A libation was then made of wine, which at this time was mixed, to imply their conjunction and union; while this was pouring out, they prayed that the blood of him who should break the treaty might be poured out in like manner. Upon these occasions no part of the victim was eaten. Still further to increase the solemnity of this obligation, the league was engraven upon brals, fixed up in places of public concourse, and sometimes read at the solemn games. Some exchanged certain συμβάντα or ὑπερέστατα upon the occasion, and frequently sent ambassadors on some appointed day, to keep them in mind of their engagements to each other.
The ceremonies of the Romans in making leagues were performed by the Feciales. See FECIALES.
LEAGUES of the Grisons, are a part of Switzerland, consisting of three subdivisions, viz. the upper league, the league of the house of God, and the league of the ten jurisdictions. See the article GRISONS.
The League, by way of eminence, denotes that famous one on foot in France, from the year 1576 to 1593. Its intent was to prevent the succession of Henry IV. who was of the reformed religion, to the crown; and it ended with his abjuration of that faith.
The leaguers, or confederates, were of three kinds. The zealous leaguers aimed at the utter destruction not only of the Huguenots, but also of the ministry. The Spanish leaguers had principally in view the transferring the crown of France to the king of Spain, or the infant his daughter. The moderate leaguers aimed only at the extirpation of Calvinism, without any alteration of the government.