French-language documents produced by the Hospitallers, 1231–1310
Laura Morreale
This study examines the use of French for documents employed by Hospitallers in Holy Land from 1231 until 1310. The period greatest French-language production, 1275, occurred when Order's central convent was Acre. During this time, texts were exchanged primarily between and Westerners East, not with speakers West. Early on, as an oral written language, practice encouraged continued among Hospitallers, whose members informed policy changes through public readings legal texts. document production diminished 1270s, permanent Christian settlements East threatened. Hospitaller then internal purposes, conjunction other writings to defend Order purpose came under attack once expelled Land.
Journal of Medieval History