diplomàtiques
Diplomàtiques, in the sense of diplomatics, is the scholarly discipline that analyzes documentary sources—such as charters, privileges, and official acts—to establish their authenticity, provenance, dating, and legal or administrative significance. It concentrates on the form, structure, and material features of documents produced by authorities, churches, towns, and rulers, as well as the customary formulas and procedures they embody.
The field originated in early modern Europe, with Jean Mabillon’s De re diplomatica (1681) widely credited as
Core methods include analyzing external features (ink, parchment or paper, seals, watermarks) and internal elements (opening
Today, diplomatics is distinct from palaeography (handwriting) and sigillography (seals) but intersects with archival science, history,