Is French Toast?: The Fall of French as the Leading Lingua Franca

French was the dominant international language until the 20th century, but in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was written in both French and English. The French language as a leading lingua franca reached its height during the reign of Louis XIV and the era of the salons. However, the French Revolution and Napoleonic Empire brought an end to the ancient regime and subsequently an end to the era in which French prestige originated. These events also helped English to take the mantle of leading lingua franca. The language repositioned itself, and it survives internationally today