The article is based on a lecture in memory of Antoni Maczak, given in Warsaw on March 30th, 2006. The author discusses language politics in various European countries in the early modern period. In case of Poland and Germany, vernaculars reached dominant position in the Renaissance without legal action from the state. In Hungary,on the other hand, Latin maintaned a stable ascendancy until the late 18th century. Latin signified the continued strenght of Hungary's claim to separation vis-a-vis Habsburgs rulers. In France and England the authorities actively intervened to promote the official language of the state against Welsh, Gaelic and Latin. In Bohemia of the 16th and 17th centuries it was the estates, not the monarchy, that took a lead in the political deployment if the language. .