* Time period: The medieval period spans centuries, and languages evolved during that time.
* Region: Different regions of Europe had different dominant languages.
* Royal family: Even within the same region, different royal families might have spoken different languages.
Here's a breakdown of some common languages:
* French: French became the language of the French court starting in the 12th century, and it also spread as a prestigious language in other parts of Europe. This was due to the influence of the French monarchy and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
* Latin: Latin, the language of the Roman Empire, was still used as the language of scholarship, diplomacy, and religion throughout the medieval period. It was commonly understood by educated individuals, including royalty.
* English: While English was spoken by the common people in England, the royal court initially used French after the Norman Conquest. English slowly re-emerged as the dominant language in England by the 14th century.
* German: German was spoken by the various royal families of the Holy Roman Empire. There were many regional dialects, but High German gradually became the dominant language.
* Spanish: Spanish was spoken by the Spanish monarchy.
* Italian: Italian was spoken by the Italian city-states and later the Kingdom of Italy.
Other important factors:
* Bilingualism: Many royals were bilingual or multilingual, especially in courtly circles.
* Courtly languages: The court of a particular king or queen might adopt a specific language as a prestigious language, even if it wasn't their native tongue.
In short, there is no single answer to the question of what language medieval royalty spoke. It depends on the specific time, place, and royal family in question.