How did Jean Mabillon respond to the controversy over Benedictine charters?

Jean Mabillon responded to the controversy over Benedictine charters by authoring the foundational work of diplomatics, titled De Re Diplomatica (1681).123

The controversy arose when the Bollandist Fathers, specifically the Jesuit Daniel Papebroch, challenged the authenticity of many Benedictine charters, claiming that nearly all Merovingian documents were spurious. In response, Mabillon developed a comprehensive, scientific methodology to authenticate historical documents. He meticulously examined external and internal features, including ink, parchment, and handwriting styles, while comparing charters against one another.23

Mabillon’s work was so rigorous and masterly that it effectively settled the dispute. The intellectual honesty of the exchange was notable; even Papebroch eventually conceded, expressing admiration for Mabillon’s work and acknowledging that the truth had been revealed in its clearest light. Through this treatise, Mabillon not only defended his order but also established the critical standards for the study of formal historical sources.23