Comments by "SantomPh" (@SantomPh) on "Edward III - England's Greatest King Documentary" video.

  1. Edward insisted that English be used in court but not officially in other respects. He spoke French as a first language. Henry IV was the first King to openly use English and encourage its usage. However the first King to actually declare English to be the sole official language was Henry Tudor (Henry VII) who ironically lived in France during the War of the Roses but pushed through his decree. His son and grandaughters all could still speak French but it became a personal ability rather than an official requirement. Henry VIII signed his letters as "Henri" and Elizabeth spoke French to diplomats-but both championed English.
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