Le rayonnement politique et littéraire de la France médiévale dans le “Recueil de l’origine de la langue et poesie françoise, Ryme et Romans” (1581) de Claude Fauchet

Abstract

Written for «la gloire du nom Francois», the Recueil is an apology of french culture whose radiation reaches its peak in the Middle Ages. According to Claude Fauchet, this period was decisive both in politics and in our literature, since our language manages to establish at the national level and to export internationally thanks to conquering and influential kings whose choices were crucial in the history of our nation. The letters are not left out, also taking their rise and affecting the neighboring countries of their major influence. Indeed, C. Fauchet shows that the choices of domestic and foreign policy allowed French to take root as a different language from Latin. He also insists on the international influence of our language, revealing, among other things, the decisive role of William the Conqueror who manages to impose French in England for several centuries. European literature is presented in its relationship of dependence on the first texts of the French language. According to C. Fauchet, the texts of our “trouveres” are the melting pot of inspirations of the bordering countries: these last came to draw on our medieval literary monuments which makes the beauty of their writings.