# Oaths of Strasbourg (842)

URL: https://history-france.com/timeline/842-oaths-of-strasbourg
Location: Strasbourg

Charles and Louis swore mutual support in vernacular Romance and Germanic forms, a landmark in linguistic history. Within the broader Frankish Kingdoms period, Merovingian and Carolingian rulers built large Frankish realms over former Roman Gaul. Conversion, aristocratic power, church institutions and imperial expansion laid foundations for medieval France. At this point in the timeline, the relevant governing authority is Carolingian civil war (Competing Carolingian rulers). Oaths of Strasbourg is a useful marker in the longer transformation of political authority, society and culture in France. The event is positioned here so visitors can read it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion, culture and France’s wider international setting.

## Why it matters
Oaths of Strasbourg is a useful marker in the longer transformation of political authority, society and culture in France.

Ruler at the time: [Carolingian civil war](https://history-france.com/rulers/carolingian-civil-war)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Oaths of Strasbourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Oaths+of+Strasbourg&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Oaths of Strasbourg](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Oaths+of+Strasbourg)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of French history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_French_history)