Why were the Leges Barbarorum written in Latin?

The Leges Barbarorum were written in Latin primarily due to the significant influence of Roman culture and legal traditions on the Germanic peoples during the period of their migration and settlement in former Roman provinces.1

By adopting Latin for these written collections, the Germanic tribes utilized the established technical terminology of Roman law to codify their own customs. This practice reflects the broader historical context of the era, in which Latin served as the principal language of administration, law, and governance across Europe. While these codes recorded traditional tribal customs rather than creating legislation in the modern sense, the use of Latin provided a formal, authoritative medium for documenting these practices as they transitioned from unwritten oral traditions into written law.12

In contrast, other legal traditions, such as those of the Anglo-Saxon and North Germanic groups, were written in the vernacular, a development largely facilitated by the later influence of Christianity.1