Hisotry of cryptographyCiphersCodes, NomenclatorsVenetian nomenclators
Encrypt using a code/nomenclator
Decifra messaggi d'archivio

Using this page one can encrypt a text (200 chars max) within a choice of Venetian ciphers, between 1411 and 1772, and, for comparison, a few XVI century Papal ciphers, taken from Meister's book (Matteo Argenti's collection), are also listed. The alphabet is usually the Italian XVI century one with 20 letters, lacking vU jJ kK wW xX yY. These letters if present will be removed or converted (e.g J → I, U → V ...).

The encrypting algorithm will use dictionary words or phrases as first choice, if available, otherwise it will use syllables, and if no suitable syllables are available it will use the alphabet; if there are homophones it will use a random function; indeed these were the normal recommendations for secretaries.

The algorithm inserts nulls, if present in the key, at the beginning and the end of the message, between equal letters (doubles)and at random with a frequency of about one out of 25.

Please note that dictionaries use Italian words, so encrypting with other languages, the dictionary will be scarcely used.

The cipher's scontro (key sheet) is at page's bottom.

Plain text


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Step by step encryption
Text to be sent

b
a
1
t
z

!

o

F
t
z
e
up
n
-
d
x
o
4

!

?

b
o
O
r
G
d
x
i
X
n
-
i
X
d
x
a
1
u
5
o
S
s
f
t
z
r
G
a
V
s
=
i
X
g
j
n
-
o
O
r
G
i
X
a
0

b

b

w
Reload 1
Cipher key (scontro)

Alphabet
abcdefghilmnopqrstux


Numbers
0123456789

12 Nulls
!spomhFdcb?w

Syllabary



Dictionary
Papa$conKet&florentinos@perP
quo%

Riferimenti bibliografici
  • Aloys Meister, Die Geheimschrift Im Dienste Der Papstlichen Kurie Von Ihren Anfängen Bis Zum Ende Des XVI. Jahrhunderts, Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn, 1906 → eBook
Siti e pagine web