Wolff, Philippe. Histoire du Languedoc. Toulouse: Privat, 1967.
LANGUEDOIL
. The term, which appeared only at the end of the Middle Ages, describing that part of
France where Old French was spoken: the region of the Langue d’oïl north of the
linguistic frontier formed, roughly, by the Cevennes and the Dordogne River. South of
that frontier lay the Langue d’oc, where Occitan was spoken. The two regions became
subject to many fiscal and administrative distinctions during the Hundred Years’ War,
and for convenience historians often refer to the Estates General of Languedoil to
describe assemblies that did not include representatives of the southern districts.
John Bell Henneman, Jr.
LAON
. Laon (Aisne) is dramatically situated atop a fish-hook-shaped plateau overlooking the
flat plains of northern France. A natural fortress and lookout point, the site has been
inhabited since Neolithic times and is identified with the oppidum Bibrax mentioned by
Caesar. A fortified point in the northern line of defense against barbarian invasions and,
later, Viking raids, Laon became the main
Medieval france: an encyclopedia 986