Noun
Holy League (plural Holy Leagues)
(historical) Any one of several temporary alliances between Christian countries of (especially mediaeval) Europe, formed for some specific objective of ostensible benefit to Christianity.
The initiative for a Holy League often came from a secular power, not the pope, but papal involvement was inevitable if it was to have the same spiritual benefits to participants as a crusade.
In short time, both Henry VIII, King of England (1509–47), and Maximilian I also joined the Holy League of 1511. Source: Internet
The Holy League lost 60 ships (30 galleys) and 20,000 men, and Giovanni Andrea Doria was barely able to escape with a small vessel. Source: Internet
In the same way he was the animating spirit of the League of Halle, formed in 1533, from which sprang in 1538 the Holy League of Nuremberg for the maintenance of the religious Peace of Nuremberg. Source: Internet
The prolonged Italian Wars resulted in Maximilian joining the Holy League to counter the French. Source: Internet