A.E.I.O.U.

coat of arms, united under Imperial double-headed eagle (now Italy) featuring an A.E.I.O.U. inscription Frederick's first use of the five-letter monogram was in 1437, when he was Duke of Styria. One note in his notebook (discovered in 1666), though not in the same hand, explains it in German and Latin as "All the world is subject to Austria" ( or ). This verse was probably adopted by Frederick from a poem by Nicolaus Petschacher of Znaim who worked as a court official in the 1440s. Other interpretations have been put forth, including by contemporary heraldists. Several explanations proceed on the assumption that it was meant as a political slogan. • (Latin for "Austria is best united by the Empire"). • ("Austria will be supreme in the world", sometimes incorrectly given as "Austria will be the last (surviving) in the world"). • ("The chosen eagle conquers all with justice"). • (Middle High German for "All honor is upon us"). Since Frederick wrote this acronym when he was not yet the ruler of the Archduchy of Austria and, at that time, Styria was entirely separated from Austria and was not considered to be its part until the next century, the term "Austria" in this context would not mean Austria as a territory or a nation, but rather the "House of Austria", that is, the Habsburg dynasty. Many Latin and German interpretations have been attempted over the centuries; most of these versions refer to a motto of present-day Austria or the extensive Habsburg monarchy. ==See also==