Pages: 213-216

The representations on shields from the surface of the slabs with construction inscriptions from 1452 and 1454, found in the fortress of Belgorod-Dnestrovsk (Asprokastron, Monkastro, Cetatea Albă, Akkerman), are the monogram of the Moldavian ruler Alexandru II, known also as Alexăndrel and Olechno. The schematical drawing of the first of these slabs, made in 1819, as well as relatively well preserved fragments of the relief and characteristical shape of the shears of the completely lost parts of the second one allow the author to state that the heraldric field bears the combination of two letters, arranged vertically — first letter is „A” and the second, partially covered by the border of the shield, is „L”. The roots of the monogram itself are not very evident, but it is very possible that the monogram is of Crimean origin. At the least, such heraldric signs are quite characteristic regalia for the Theodoro princes, who could have been in friendly relationship with the Moldavian rulers already in the second half of the 1430s. It is assumed that this coat of arms and the coins of Alexăndrel with Slavic legend were worked by one craftsman.

Keywords: Belgorod-Dnestrovsk fortress, 15th century, Moldavian ruler Alexăndrel, heraldry, monogram, coat of arms

Information about author:

Vladimir Kirilko (Simferopol, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Crimea Branch of the Archaeology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Yaltinskaya St., 2, Simferopol, 95007, Ukraine
E-mail: [email protected]