Editing Great Cipher (section)

== Technical nature ==
[[File:Great Cipher.png|thumb|One of many nomenclators used to encode the Great Cipher.]]
The basis of the code cracked by Bazeries was a set of 587 numbers that stood for syllables.<ref>Singh</ref> There were other variations, and Louis XIV's overseas ministers were sent different code sheets that encrypted not only syllables but also letters and words.<ref>Urban 2004, p. 104</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/aug/25/artsandhumanities.highereducation |title=Wellington's lucky break &#124; Education |work=The Guardian |date= 2001-08-25|access-date=2009-10-10 | location=London | first=Mark | last=Urban}}</ref> To counter [[frequency analysis]], some number sets were "nulls", meant to be ignored by the intended recipient. Others were traps, including a codegroup that meant to ignore the previous codegroup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vectorsite.net/ttcode_02.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026035033/http://www.vectorsite.net/ttcode_02.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 26, 2005 |title=[2.0&#93; Refining The Art |publisher=Vectorsite.net |access-date=2009-10-10}}</ref> 

As a [[substitution cipher|nomenclator]] cipher, the Great Cipher replaced the names of key generals such as [[Auguste de Marmont]], references to ''les ennemis'' and other sensitive terms with [[substitution cipher|homophonic substitutions]].<ref>Kahn 2005, p. 47</ref> Code sheets included alternative digits to modify the gender or letter case<ref>Urban 2003, p. 111</ref> and so the rules of French composition held true to encryptions as well. Since ''e'' is the most commonly used letter in French, the Cipher typically allocated the most code numbers to writing that vowel. In one nomenclature, 131 out of the 711 code numbers stood for ''e''.<ref>Urban 2004, p. 117</ref>