The romain du roi was a typeface that emerged in France during the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th-18th century.  It was commissioned by King Louis XIV who wanted a unique typeface exclusive to the royal printers.

The Age of Enlightenment was a significant period in the Western World due to it’s deviation from tradition and faith; promoting reason and science. In the spirit of the age, the romain du roi was created by three members of the Bignon Committee from the Academy of Science, with an emphasis on the math and sciences for the design. The designs were produced on a 48×48 grid (2,304 squares) with careful measurements, with distinctive thick and thins.

The emergence of the romain du roi marked the beginning of the Traditional period in type history.