Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/179

 BRACTEATES, AND RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS. ]-25 " 7. Is M, and is repeated again under No, 15. "8. Is a monogram formed of A, N. " 9. Is a final union of the usual ordinary rune S, with 0, therefore Os, (as in the Greek) with which the word Alamanos closes. "10. Is distinguished from the similar character under No. 8, by its slanting position, and by wanting the cross- stroke, and at the same time shows, by this position, that it forms a word by itself as a monogram. It comprises the four runes, U, N, I, T, and must be read unit. "11. Is C and K united, and is consequently a hard German Ck. " 12. Is an A interwoven with R. See Grimm, Deutsche Runen, Tab. i. Cod. Vind. 64. Hickes, Gr. Anglosax. p. 136. "13. A clear L, struck through, according to the Slavonic dialect, to express reduplication. "14. Is an ordinary Slavonic 0, after removing the cross. " 15. Is M, as we have seen under No. 7. " 16. Is the same A as under No. 6. "17 and 1 8 are the common runic N, N, and form the conclusion of Karlomann. The contents of this inscription consequently are ' Czechos ac Alamanos unit Karlomann.' " The plausibility of this interpretation will appear more clearly from the following history of this monument as given by M. Wolanski. Karlomann, the great-grandson of Charlemagne, had received from his father, the German King Louis, Bavaria and part of Bohemia. In the year 869, Ratislav, King of Moravia, joined with the Bohemians and Servians in an attack upon Karlomann. He was accompanied by liis nephew Svatopluk. Karlomann marched to meet him, broke into Moravia, but found himself in great difficulties, and peace was concluded the same year. In the following year, 870, Svatopluk quarrelled with his uncle, went over to Karlomann, placed himself under his protection, and delivered up to him his uncle who had been made prisoner. Karlomann caused the King of Moravia to be condemned to death ; but Louis, Karlomann's father, to whom he was obliged to refer the disposal of the unhappy Ratislav, with the barbarity peculiar to the middle ages, contented himself with putting out his eyes and shutting him up in a monastery, after which Svatopluk took possession of Moravia. In the following vear,