The Spartacist League was a revolutionary socialist group founded in Germany in 1916. It emerged from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and was named after the ancient Roman gladiator Spartacus, symbolizing the fight against oppression. The league aimed to establish a communist society and was a key player in the German Revolution of 1918-1919. The Spartacist League was led by prominent figures like Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. They advocated for workers' councils and direct action to overthrow the capitalist system. The group eventually split from the SPD, leading to the formation of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in 1918.