ABSTRACT
The study of the role and the use of languages in early modern diplomacy is a relatively new research field emerging within the framework of new diplomatic history. In their introduction, the editors provide an overview of approaches and methods used by the authors and highlight the methodological challenges they encounter. They examine dominant narratives in the social and cultural history of languages, focusing on the roles of Latin and French as widely acknowledged lingua francas of the early modern era, and offer a brief survey of language patterns across various regions of Europe. The final part of the introduction takes an actor-centred approach, discussing the linguistic roles and skills of various diplomatic personnel, as well as communicative challenges they faced in the multilingual settings of early modern diplomacy.
