At that time, and for several centuries already, Latin was no longer spoken in France, but replaced by different dialects, which we call the mother tongue. We thus find the language of Oc, Occitan, the language of Oil, Provençal, Breton, etc. Only Paris, or almost, speaks French, considering the other languages as “patois”. Latin is still used in writing, especially in legal, administrative, religious texts, etc.
From Charles VII, the royal power began reforms to make the texts more comprehensive. Thus, in 1454, Charles VII had an ordinance drawn up so that everything relating to law, such as legislative texts, be written in the mother tongue of Alsace, except for (Ordinance of Montils-lès-Tours). Charles VIII, his successor, extends this ordinance to the minutes, it is the so-called ordinance of Moulins. Louis XII, meanwhile, decreed that all acts of justice must be written in the language of the people in order to facilitate respect for the law. In 1535, François 1 st continues the will of Louis XII by extending his ordinance to Languedoc which was until then exempted (ordinance of Is-sur-Till).
1539
Characters
François 1 st
Guillaume Poyet
Charles VII
Charles VIII
Louis XII
Procedure
Four years later, between August 10 and 15, 1539, under the aegis of François 1 st , Chancellor Guillaume Poyet wrote the “Ordonnance du Roy sur le fait de justice”, known as Villers-Cotterêts, because it took place in the castle of the same name, belonging to the king. It is also called Guilelmine ordinance, in reference to the writer.
This text, made up of 192 articles, is in line with the previous ones, but this time, King François 1 st requires that all laws, legislative or administrative texts be written in "French mother tongue and not otherwise" . By detaching justice from Latin, which was still used despite everything (notarial act, etc.), the ordinance detaches it from religion (which still uses Latin) and secularizes it. It distinguishes between ecclesiastical and secular (lay) jurisdiction. In addition, this text imposes that all priests must now register births and that newborns must name their father. This is the first milestone of civil status. There are only two manuscripts written on parchment of this ordinance which will be registered by the Parliament of Paris, on September 6, 1539.
Consequences
This ordinance is fundamental because it makes administration and justice accessible to all. In addition, by stating that French must henceforth be the official language of laws, decrees, administration, it insists on the awareness of a national language, and gradually forges awareness of a common identity. .A few years later, new ordinances will reinforce this. One concerns the registration of marriages and burials (ordinance of Blois in 1579). In 1667, the new ordinance drawn up at Saint Germain requires that the registers be kept in duplicate.