Encrypted manuscripts
a paleographic study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24206/lh.v11i1.64380Keywords:
Paleografia, Criptografia, Manuscritos, Codificação, História da escritaAbstract
This article, grounded in paleographic theories, offers a methodological examination of manuscripts associated with cryptography. It begins by exploring theoretical perspectives on the creation of conventional manuscripts, which cryptology refers to as 'plaintext,' valued for their clarity and ease in conveying ideas. In contrast, cryptograms introduce an additional layer of complexity, requiring the generation and comprehension of codes shared exclusively between sender and receiver. This characteristic highlights their importance in contexts where privacy and information security are critical. Over time, many of these documents were deliberately destroyed, limiting the available sources for research. However, some examples have survived, and this article presents one such case: a cryptogram that facilitated communication between military officials and King John IV of Portugal during the Dutch colonization of Brazil. Finally, the article calls for increased attention to the paleographic study of these documents, demonstrating how they reveal cultural practices and power structures of their time, while also enriching our understanding of the intersection between language, secrecy, and society.
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