French
The French group runs from the Francien of Paris and the Normans and Picards of the north to the Gascons, Provençals and Languedociens of the south, with Burgundians, Bretons and Walloons. Its Capetian kings slowly absorbed regions with their own dialects.
In 1337 Edward III of England confronted Philip VI over Aquitaine, opening the Hundred Years' War, which ended in 1453 with only Calais left to England. Brittany joined the crown in 1532, and the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts of 1539 made French the language of law. The Wars of Religion of 1562–1598 followed.
Members
- Picard
- Languedocien
- Bourguignon
- Provençal
- Limousin
- Norman
- Auvergnat
- Francien
- Angevin
- Saintongeais
- Arpitan
- Lorrain
- Poitevin
- Franc Comtois
- Champenois
- Alpine
- Gallo
- Berrichon