Editing Merovingian script

{{short description|Medieval Latin script}}
<!--[[Image:Merov.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Sample from an 8th-century evangelary in the Merovingian script]]-->
[[File:Merov2.jpg|350px|thumb|Merovingian script sample from an evangelary internally dated to AD 754, from F. Steffens's ''Lateinische Paläographie'' (1929): ''ego hacse jnperitus gundohinus poscen- / te fulculfo monacho et si non ut dibui / psaltjm ut ualui a capite usque ad sui con[summacionis finem...]'']]
'''Merovingian script''' or '''Gallo-Roman script''' ({{langx|la|Scriptura Merovingica/Francogallica}}) was a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] variant of the [[Latin script]] so called because it was developed in [[Gaul]] during the [[Merovingian dynasty]]. It was used in the 7th and 8th centuries before the [[Carolingian]] dynasty and the development of [[Carolingian minuscule]].

==Script types==
There were four major centres of Merovingian script: the monasteries of [[Abbey of Luxeuil|Luxeuil]], [[Laon]], [[Corbie]], and [[Chelles, Seine-et-Marne|Chelles]]. Each script developed from [[uncial]], [[half-uncial]], and the [[Merovingian charter scripts]].

===Luxeuil===
[[Image:Lect Luxeuil 144.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Folio 144 of the ''Lectionary of Luxeuil'', manuscript Lat. 9427, at the [[Bibliothèque Nationale de France|National Library of France]], written in the Luxeuil type. The folio's content consists of [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 5:17-25. {{Lang|la|Tempore illo exsur- / gens autem princeps sacerdotum: et omnes / qui cum illo erant· quae est heresis sadducaeorum}}·...]]

The Luxeuil type uses distinctive long, slim capital letters as a [[display script]]. These capitals have wedge-shaped finials, and the crossbar of ⟨a⟩ resembles a small letter ⟨v⟩ while that of ⟨h⟩ is a wavy line. The letter ⟨o⟩ is often written as a diamond shape, with a smaller ⟨o⟩ written inside. The letter ⟨a⟩ resembles two ⟨c⟩s ("cc"), and because of this distinctive feature the Luxeuil type is sometimes called "a type".{{sfn|Stiennon| 1991|p=90}} The letter ⟨b⟩ often has an open bowl and an arm connecting it to the following letter, the letter ⟨d⟩ can have either a vertical [[Ascender (typography)|ascender]] or an ascender slanted to the left; ⟨i⟩ is often very tall, resembling l; ⟨n⟩ can be written with an uncial form (similar to a capital ⟨N⟩); ⟨o⟩ is often drop-shaped and has a line connecting it to the next letter; and ⟨t⟩ has a loop extending to the left of its top stroke. The letter ⟨t⟩ is also used in numerous [[ligature (typography)|ligatures]] where it has many other forms. The letters ⟨e⟩ and ⟨r⟩ are also quite often found in ligature.

===Laon===
The Laon type has thicker display capitals than the Luxeuil type. Capital initial letters are often decorated with animals, and there are many ligatures with the letter ⟨i⟩. Like [[Visigothic script]], there are two different ⟨ti⟩ ligatures, representing two different sounds ("hard" and "soft"). The letters ⟨d⟩ and ⟨q⟩ often have open bowls. The letter a is unique, resembling two sharp points ("<<"), and the letter ⟨z⟩, uncommon in Latin, is nevertheless very distinctive in the Laon type, with a flourish projecting upwards to the left, above the line. Because of these features, Laon type is sometimes called "a-z type".

===Corbie===
The Corbie type as used in the 8th century, was based on uncial and the Luxeuil type, but was also similar to half-uncial and [[insular script]], with elements of Roman cursive. It is sometimes called "eN-type", as the letter ⟨e⟩ has a high, open upper loop, and the uncial form of the letter ⟨n⟩ (resembling majuscule ⟨N⟩) is very frequently used. After the mid-8th century, the letter (a) also has an open loop and resembles the letter ⟨u⟩; this type is referred to as "eNa-type". A more distinctive type was developed at Corbie in the 9th century, the "a-b type". The letter ⟨b⟩ is similar to Luxeuil type, but the letter ⟨a⟩ has a straight first stroke, resembling a combination of ⟨i⟩ and ⟨c⟩. This type was used from the end of the 8th century until the mid-9th century. The [[Liber glossarum]], a major medieval reference work, was written in the "a-b type" script of Corbie.

===Chelles===
The Chelles type was similar to the Luxeuil a-b type. Other features include the uncial ⟨N⟩, with strokes leaning to the left; the letter d with an ascender leaning to the left; the letter ⟨g⟩ with a [[descender]] resembling the letter ⟨s⟩; the letter ⟨s⟩ with a very small top loop; and the letter ⟨x⟩ with the two strokes crossing near the top of the line rather than the middle.

==Development==
There was also a Merovingian [[cursive]] script, used in charters and non-religious writings. All of these types were later influenced by Carolingian script, which eventually replaced it entirely. Along with resemblances to Carolingian and Visigothic, Merovingian shares some features with [[Beneventan script]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
* {{cite book|last=Bischoff|first=Bernard|title=Latin Palaeography: Antiquity and the Middle Ages|year=1989|publisher=Cambridge University Press}}
* {{cite book|last=Marcos|first=Juan-Jose|title=Manual of Latin Palaeography|year=2024|url=https://www.typofonts.com/LATIN_PALEOGRAPHY.pdf}}
* {{cite book|last=Lowe|first=E. A.|title=Codices Latini Antiquiores: A Palaeographical Guide to Latin Manuscripts Prior to the Ninth Century|year=1972|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford}}
* {{cite book|last=Stiennon|first=Jacques|title=Paléographie du moyen âge|year=1991|publisher=Armand Colin|location=Paris|isbn=2-200-31278-4|edition=2nd|ol=19938510M}}
{{refend}}

{{European calligraphy}}
{{list of writing systems}}

[[Category:Latin-script calligraphy]]
[[Category:Merovingian period|Script]]
[[Category:Medieval scripts]]
[[Category:Western calligraphy]]