Which early texts provide evidence of written Romance languages?

Evidence of written Romance languages began to emerge in the 9th century as deliberate attempts were made to record vernacular speech distinct from Latin. Northern French texts are generally considered the earliest examples, as the language in that region had diverged significantly from Latin.12

Key early texts include:

• The Strasbourg Oaths (842 CE): Often cited as the first document written in a form of French, this text records oaths sworn by two of Charlemagne’s grandsons.3
• The Eulalia Sequence (880–882 CE): A short poem on the life of St. Eulalia, which serves as a definitive early example of Old French.3
• 10th-Century Fragments: Other early northern French texts include the Passion du Christ, the Vie de St. Léger, and the "Jonas fragment".3
• Italian Documents: In Italy, early evidence includes a potential 8th-century riddle from Verona, though it remains heavily Latinized. More certain evidence appears in 10th-century court testimonies from Montecassino, such as the Placiti (decrees) of Capua and Sessa.45

These early writings reflect the transition from Latin to the conventionalized vernacular forms that eventually evolved into modern Romance languages.24