Capitalis

Capitalis is a Latin adjective meaning “of the head” or “principal,” used in scholarly contexts to describe a class of uppercase letter forms in classical and medieval writing. In paleography and epigraphy, capitalis designates the system of capital (uppercase) letters used for inscriptions and formal texts, as opposed to lowercase or script forms.

The best-known varieties within capitalis are Capitalis Monumentalis and Capitalis Quadrata. Capitalis Monumentalis refers to the monumental capitals carved on stone in the Roman world; these letters are designed for long-term legibility on durable surfaces and exhibit careful proportion, regular rhythm, and consistent stroke units. Capitalis Quadrata, literally “square capitals,” is a related form characterized by geometric, squared shapes and was commonly used in manuscripts and some stone inscriptions where a bold, legible display was desired. A third form, Capitalis Rustica, describes a more practical, quickly executed capital style found in less formal inscriptions and early medieval manuscripts.

Influence and legacy: capitalis letterforms are considered fundamental precursors of the modern Latin uppercase alphabet. They informed the development of later inscriptional and typographic traditions and continue to be studied by epigraphists and paleographers as benchmarks for dating and identifying inscriptions and manuscripts. The study of capitalis helps illuminate the practices of scribes and engravers, including standardization of letter proportions and the visual vocabulary of formal Latin writing.

See also: Latin script, epigraphy, palaeography, inscriptional capitals, Capitalis monumentalis, Capitalis quadrata.