Royal Cyphers, Arms and Monograms

[Kit]

Austia under the Habsburgs:

“Austriae est imperare orbi universo,” abbreviated to AEIOU: “It is for Austria to command the whole world.”

They also had this motto:

"Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria, nube!" which means: "Wars may be led by others - you, happy Austria, marry!"

I am not sure when they changed it though.

First of all each Habsburg Emperor had its own motto! Franz Joseph I. had "viribus unitis" which can be translated as "with combined forces". Empress Maria Theresia had "Justitia and Clementia" - Justice and clemency.

Second as far as AEIOU is concerned - Emperor Friedrich III had the habit of decorate all important buildings with these 5 letters. Till today it is not know for what it really stands, there a several theories concerning the meaning (Friedrich III was interested in alchemy by the way) and the most common is "Alles Erdreich ist Österreich untertan" which can be very freely translated as "It is for Austria to command the world" A better translated version would be "All parts of the world are subordinated to Austria". Personally I still doubt this theory if it would have been Emperor Karl V. then it would fit but not with Friedrich III. So far this is all just speculation.

And third as far as "bella gerant alii, etc." is concerned nobody knows where this term comes from. It was certainly not a personal motto of any of the Habsburgs BUT it was attributed to them by later historians because of their fortunate marriage policy. Generally it was first used when talking about Emperor Maximilian I. and later with Empress Maria Theresia. Since then it was always considered as some sort of "family motto" although the Habsburgs don't have such a thing (or at least not an official one) and what's more the Habsburgs themselves never used "bella gerant alii", it was only attributed by historians and contemporaries when talking about the marriage policy of the dynasty.

[PrincessKaimi]

"The Most Happy..." (Anne Boleyn)

[york04]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a property that has an interesting lamp and post that I've been told originally came from a royal estate in England. The lamp itself is topped with a crown and the base of the post is stamped with what appears to be "RXR IV" set under a crown. Does anyone have any idea of what this means? ...or where I might find further information about these initials? I've noticed similar [iron] posts w/ ER II in England today; in reference to the current Queen. Any help/direction would be wonderful- Thanks!

I'm not sure if this link works, but the link includes a picture of what I'm talking about...
Photos of The Royal Forums | Facebook

[Warren]

It appears to be George IV (reigned 1820-1830).

[chanka]

I am trying to identify a monogram on this photos.
http://cs10259.vkontakte.ru/u4789965...z_112bd916.jpg
http://cs10259.vkontakte.ru/u4789965...z_d897808a.jpg
http://cs10259.vkontakte.ru/u4789965...z_cede42de.jpg
Do you have any idea?

[Lerpiniere]

I have puzzled on the cypher for le Comte de St. Germain and am not sure how to interpret it. Is that a capital "C" followed by a "T" and a "W"? Or is that a string of capital Ss, ie: Supreme, Sovereign, Serene, etc?

[Tilla]

It is interesting that at the end of the word Germain, there are approximately the same signs as after the "C", only less, though.

[Lerpiniere]

Originally Posted by Tilla

It is interesting that at the end of the word Germain, there are approximately the same signs as after the "C", only less, though.

Yes, he seems to bookend his signature in this way. Another example, inscribed for Lady Brown on a collection of arias he composed, omits the CSSS altogether, and replaces them with four underline marks. He concludes with what appears to be a C and an S or perhaps just an S. It's hard to say.

[Hamilton4567]

Trying to gather some information regarding this Order of the Garter painted panel pictured. The panel measures 5'9" tall and 20 1/2" wide. I believe the frame is oak and the painted surface appears to be leather. Any information regarding this piece would be appreciated.

[Grandduchess24]

I just love them all they all seem to have their own design. And isn't there usually someone in charge of designing the royal cyphers?
I just love them all. Isn't someone in charge of designing a royal cypher?

[Calif]

Could anyone identify the crown, please? (see attachment)

Is it in any way related to royalty?

I am particularly curious about the little ring on the right.

Thank you.

Calif

[mary stuart]

it looks like a marquis crown but i could be wrong

[rpnewman]

I'm new to this forum but really enjoyed getting "lost" in the various threads.

I need help identifying the attached monogram. I believe it is English with the initials VAR. It was made approximately 1700 to 1710 perhaps as some sort of commemorative. Can anyone help?

[Baroness of Books]

Hello and welcome to the forums. As a guess, maybe Victoria Regina and Albert?

[rpnewman]

Victoria and Albert would be too late, but appreciate the quick response! I thought maybe Queen Anne who ascended to the throne in 1702 but I can't locate a monogram to confirm. Nor do I know what the "V" would stand for. "AR" perhaps Anne Regina ?

[Baroness of Books]

Oh, duh, read your post so quickly that I skimmed over the dates. Hopefully someone will be able to identify this for you. Good luck!

[rpnewman]

Okay, I think my error is interpreting a "V" in the cypher. I'm now convinced that this is an upside down "A". So we have a symmetrical "AR" for Queen Anne. For those interested, this cypher is on an early English pocketwatch that could easily date to Anne's ascension to the throne in 1702.

[Vasillisos Markos]

I think you may be right, my dear rpnewman. The dates would line up with Queen Anne's ascension to the throne. I find these monograms hard to decipher at times, what with the reverse images of certain letters and being interwined.

[uppsala]

Hi community,

being new to TRF I'm quite impressed of both knowledge and speed you 'royalties' show. :)

I'm wondering if you could help me with this:

The picture attached shows a book dating back to 1912 with an obviously royal crown and monogram.

Anyone with an idea who that is?

The book is the Official Report of the Olympic Games Stockholm 1912 published the same year. Obviously very few copies have been personalized and handed to royals. There were two different language editions of this report: one in swedish and another in english.
The one on the pic is english - so it shouldn't have gone to the swedish royalties but probably to some other european royalty. British? Belgium? German? Who knows???
Thanks for your help! and cheers from Sweden.

[cepe]

This is only a guess but Wilhelm II of Germany and his first wife, Princess Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein are a possibility for 1912