French Literature Reviews - 2026
B. Cerquiglini, L'Invention de Nithard
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Bernard Cerquiglini
L'Invention de Nithard
Minuit, 2018
128 p. — ISBN: 9782707344694 — €15.00
Having barely emerged from Latin in the 9th century, the French language was committed to writing in a prominent context and for political purposes (the Oaths of Strasbourg, 842); this was remarkably early.
A grandson of Charlemagne, a prince-diplomat and Latinist warrior, conceived the idea of using it in writing; Nithard is the inventor of the French language.
He was also its first writer: French literature was born out of his grief.
The rise of French and its literature therefore owes a great deal to Nithard, to whom history has consistently been ungrateful.
Through this Carolingian road movie, the reader will discover why.
Table of Contents
A Unique Encounter ............................. 7
Figures of an Unsung Man ........................... 13
The Enigma of the Oaths ........................... 35
The Alliance of Princes ............................. 47
Outline of a Nation? ......................... 73
“Dispelling the Darkness of Error” ..... 87
Like a Brother ..................................... 111
Tombeau ................................................. 121
The transition from Latin to the vernacular tongues of Europe represents a pivotal moment in medieval history. In the ninth century, the Carolingian Empire witnessed the first official written traces of what would become the French language, most notably through the Oaths of Strasbourg in 842. This diplomatic alliance, recorded by the warrior and scholar Nithard, marked a departure from classical Latin for political and practical communication. In L'Invention de Nithard, Bernard Cerquiglini explores Nithard's role in this development.
Despite his foundational role, Nithard has often remained an obscure figure in traditional literary histories. As a prince-diplomat and warrior, Nithard is described as the inventor and first writer of the French language. The text suggests that French literature was born out of his grief, offering a portrait of an unsung historical figure. Readers interested in medieval studies, historical linguistics, and the origins of Romance languages may find it relevant.