VViews, the information about the song is fascinating. Songs get around, especially in noble circles where there was always entertainment. It appears to have originated in the 13th century?, so it predates the VMS and Frederick's vowel sequence. I wonder if a song could have inspired Frederick's use of the emblem.
In the Wiki article, this caught my attention: "The vowels seem to be meaningless, though they have been suggested to form a phonic pyramid pointing to heaven."
AEIOU from 1457 (courtesy of Wikipedia):
![[Image: 800px-A.E.I.O.U._Theresianische_Militaer...ShiftN.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/A.E.I.O.U._Theresianische_Militaerakademie_Wr_Neustadt-DSC_6513w_ShiftN.jpg/800px-A.E.I.O.U._Theresianische_Militaerakademie_Wr_Neustadt-DSC_6513w_ShiftN.jpg)
Here's an earlier one (courtesy of Wikiwand) from 1439, all in lowercase:
![[Image: 1280px-Ruprechtskirche%2C_Wien_%2848%29....8039646508]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Ruprechtskirche%2C_Wien_%2848%29.jpg/1280px-Ruprechtskirche%2C_Wien_%2848%29.jpg?1608039646508)
In the Wiki article, this caught my attention: "The vowels seem to be meaningless, though they have been suggested to form a phonic pyramid pointing to heaven."
AEIOU from 1457 (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Here's an earlier one (courtesy of Wikiwand) from 1439, all in lowercase: