Hey,
Aragon Fernando, one of the most famous Spanish monarchs, had correspondence with his supreme army leader, Gonzalo de Córdoba, more than 500 years ago. The letters contained a secret cipher with more than 200 characters, including triangles and numbers.
Historians have tried to disassemble these letters for centuries. Opening the meaning of these letters took today's intelligence workers for half of a year.
The letters contain instructions for the relocation of troops, and also a reprimand to the commander of the army for his self-activities, without the king's approval.
Fernando II played a significant role in the final conquering of Spain to the Moorish in 1492. He also funded Columbus's trip to America.
The second most famous cipher comes from the 18th century. This is a 105-page rulebook for secret ophthalmologists, which used 90 distinct characters in Greek and Latin alphabets, and abstract symbols were also used.
Computer scientist Kevin Knight was able to break this German text partly, but still. A leather-covers book was called Copiale. This manuscript taught how to take new members. The new member must volunteer in the order, commit to comply with all the rules and give a silence on the existence of this Order.
The third cipher I have found information is from the 16th century.
Scottish Queen Mary Stuart was forced to hand over her throne to her 1-year-old son, James VI, and escape from the country to England, where she hoped to find a shelter from Elizabeth I.
Mary Stuart claims herself that these letters about her husband's execution were fake. Elizabeth I put Mary in jail at Chartley Hall in Staffordshire, because she despised her.
Francis Walsingham, the head of the intelligence service, used the young Catholic Anthony Babington and wrote an encrypted letter to Queen Mary, who sought to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I from the throne. The letter was smuggling to Mary in beer parcels.
19 years later, Mary was convicted of killing Elisabeth I in the conspiracy and she was executed.
I would like to see those cipher letters. So interesting!
Thank you for reading.
Sources from Wikipedia
Images from Pixabay