Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- English literature - The later Middle English and early Renaissance periods
- Anglo-Norman literature
- United Kingdom - Economic crisis and cultural change
- Battle of Hastings: Top Questions
- Norman Conquest: Top Questions
- English language - Middle English
- Hundred Yearsâ War - Reconquest of Maine and Normandy
Why did English gradually replace Anglo-Norman in Parliament and literature?
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Following the Norman Conquest in 1066, Anglo-Norman became the dominant language of the English court, law, administration, and literature. The gradual shift back to English was driven by several key social and political factors:12
- The Hundred Yearsâ War: Growing alienation toward France during this prolonged conflict fostered a decline in the use of French dialects in England.1
- Social and Cultural Shifts: By the 14th century, English was increasingly used in public documents and records. Although an attempt to mandate English in law courts initially failed because lawyers struggled to plead accurately in the language, the Statute of Pleading (1362) eventually required court proceedings to be conducted in English.34
- Political Legitimacy: The use of English became a tool for political assertion; for example, Henry of Lancaster famously used English when he claimed the throne in 1399.3
- Literary Evolution: While English had to compete with Latin and Anglo-Norman, writers like Geoffrey Chaucer began to deliberately choose English for their major literary works, helping to consolidate its status as a serious medium.534