Die Verschlüsserung der Korrespondenz des kaiserlichen Residenten in Konstantinopel, Alexander von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads (1643-48)

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Christoph Würflinger

Abstract

This paper analyses the encryption of the correspondence of the imperial resident ambassador in Constantinople, Alexander von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads (1643–48). For early modern diplomats, information security was a vital necessity because intercepted letters could negatively affect the course of negotiations. For encryption purposes, Habsburg diplomats used a method where numbers were substituted for letters, vowels or words. Greiffenklau’s encryption key stands out as comparatively simple, and would have hardly withstood a serious decryption attempt. He only partially encrypted his letters, but two types of information were encrypted particularly often: reports concerning the peace between the Ottomans and the Habsburgs and accounts regarding the Ottoman Empire’s internal affairs.

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How to Cite
Würflinger, Christoph. 2020. “Die Verschlüsserung Der Korrespondenz Des Kaiserlichen Residenten in Konstantinopel, Alexander Von Greiffenklau Zu Vollrads (1643-48)”. Chronica 19 (September):6-23. https://iskolakultura.hu/index.php/chronica/article/view/34020.
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