A.E.I.O.U.


"A.E.I.O.U." was a symbolic device coined by Frederick III and historically used as a motto by the Habsburgs. One note in his notebook, though not in the same hand, explains it in German and Latin as "All the world is subject to Austria". Frederick habitually signed buildings such as Burg Wiener Neustadt or Graz Cathedral as well as his tableware and other objects with the vowel graphemes. As of 2017, A.E.I.O.U. is the motto of the Theresian Military Academy, established in 1751. It can also be found on the wall of the Chancellor's office in the Federal Chancellery.

Interpretation

Frederick's first use of the five-letter monogram was in 1437, when he was Duke of Styria. One note in his notebook, though not in the same hand, explains it in German and Latin as "All the world is subject to Austria".
Another passage, later in the same notebook, uses the letters in sequence as the initial letters of the words in the first line of a couplet poem, showing the meaning as "I am loved by the elect".
Other interpretations have been put forth, including by contemporary heraldists. Several explanations proceed on the assumption that it was meant as a political slogan, from the Latin phrases:
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.
More than 300 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.