09-07-2026, 06:30 PM
I believe that in the early15th century there was a great expectation of church reforms that would allow vernacular languages in literature. Also, the Slovenian dynasty of the Counts of Celje was hoping to establish a Slavic kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire and they would need a written language. In my opinion this is the reason why the author of the Voynich Manuscript did not accept German writing convention, but designated a different alphabet.
From the small fragments that were later found, it can be assumed that there were other efforts to write Slovenian in Latin letters, where either German or Italian writing convention was used. The Voynich writing is different, more influenced by Latin than by German.
I imagine there was a circle of Slovenian humanists who might know, or contribut to the creation of the Voynich Manuscript as an effort to start Slovenian literacy. Then the Church reform did not materialize, the last Count of Celje was assassinated and according to the previous Contract of inheritance, the Habsburgs inherited most the estates and ruled most Slavic lands.
The Church ideas of reforms that were generally acceptable before, particularly in the region of the present day Slovenia where the loyalty to Roman pope and Basel Church was divided, were suppressed after the Vienna Concordat in which German princes offered a loyalty to the Roman pope. Slovenian religious institution still adhered to the Basel ideas which was not acceptable to Roman Church.
I suppose both of that made the use of Slovenian language no longer necessary from the position of the Habsburg rulers. The effort to establish written Slovenian language was thus suppressed until the Protestantism became full blown and the first Slovenian book was printed in 1550. Because the Church used Latin and secular language was German, Slovenian language remained in oral form only. Although several short fragments of written Slovenian were found before 1440, there seems to be no other fragments until the middle of the 16th century.
Or perhaps the written material existed, but was confiscated or destroyed by CounterReformation, together with other Protestant books. If they were hidden in the castles and monasteries, they might be destroyed by fires during Turkish invasions and Peasant revolts.
As for the unique Voynich alphabet, the most logical reason for its disappearance was the introduction of the printing presses towards the end of the 15th century. Most early books were printed in Germany and Venice. Their printers would not be interested in using a strange alphabet that did not fit their size of letters.
Slovenian academic John Hoffler argued that Slovenian literacy would not be able to spread so fast if there was no prior written language. Also, according to some other Slovenian sources, the Slovenian Dictionary and Grammar Book was allegedly written in around 1470, but since the book was not found, it can not be confirmed. The author is unknown, but some ascribed the authorship to Slovenian academics who taught Emperor Maximillian (the son of Frederic III) Slovenian.
By 17th century, Slovenians had already standardized language using the writing convention similar to German, their own liturgical books and even first attempts of literary writing. If the Voynich alphabet was used in the past for a brief period, it became a thing of the past, unknown to 17th csholars.
From the small fragments that were later found, it can be assumed that there were other efforts to write Slovenian in Latin letters, where either German or Italian writing convention was used. The Voynich writing is different, more influenced by Latin than by German.
I imagine there was a circle of Slovenian humanists who might know, or contribut to the creation of the Voynich Manuscript as an effort to start Slovenian literacy. Then the Church reform did not materialize, the last Count of Celje was assassinated and according to the previous Contract of inheritance, the Habsburgs inherited most the estates and ruled most Slavic lands.
The Church ideas of reforms that were generally acceptable before, particularly in the region of the present day Slovenia where the loyalty to Roman pope and Basel Church was divided, were suppressed after the Vienna Concordat in which German princes offered a loyalty to the Roman pope. Slovenian religious institution still adhered to the Basel ideas which was not acceptable to Roman Church.
I suppose both of that made the use of Slovenian language no longer necessary from the position of the Habsburg rulers. The effort to establish written Slovenian language was thus suppressed until the Protestantism became full blown and the first Slovenian book was printed in 1550. Because the Church used Latin and secular language was German, Slovenian language remained in oral form only. Although several short fragments of written Slovenian were found before 1440, there seems to be no other fragments until the middle of the 16th century.
Or perhaps the written material existed, but was confiscated or destroyed by CounterReformation, together with other Protestant books. If they were hidden in the castles and monasteries, they might be destroyed by fires during Turkish invasions and Peasant revolts.
As for the unique Voynich alphabet, the most logical reason for its disappearance was the introduction of the printing presses towards the end of the 15th century. Most early books were printed in Germany and Venice. Their printers would not be interested in using a strange alphabet that did not fit their size of letters.
Slovenian academic John Hoffler argued that Slovenian literacy would not be able to spread so fast if there was no prior written language. Also, according to some other Slovenian sources, the Slovenian Dictionary and Grammar Book was allegedly written in around 1470, but since the book was not found, it can not be confirmed. The author is unknown, but some ascribed the authorship to Slovenian academics who taught Emperor Maximillian (the son of Frederic III) Slovenian.
By 17th century, Slovenians had already standardized language using the writing convention similar to German, their own liturgical books and even first attempts of literary writing. If the Voynich alphabet was used in the past for a brief period, it became a thing of the past, unknown to 17th csholars.