 Once a year the states met at a "fanu", or sacred place (Latin "fanum") to discuss military and political affairs, and also to choose a head of confederation, "zilath mechl rasnal", who held the office for one year.The Etrurian confederacy met at the "fanum Voltumnae", the "shrine of Voltumna".Their league was called the “"duodecim populi Etruriae"” or the “twelve peoples of Etruria”.