Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

The Circle is a monogram -like sign of a fraternity. He is an entanglement of mostly written in one stroke letters, usually the first letter of the connection name and a mission statement. This motto is not always equated with the motto of the connection.

Previously circles were common at some colleges that were formed from the initial letters of the university name, such as F and A Frederico - Alexandrina, G and A stands for Georgia -Augusta and R and C for Ruperto Carola.

History

Circle bürgerten to around 1780 initially with the Orden students and were taken by the Corps later. Initially, it was still easy to set one behind the other in series first letter in the form of an acronym, it later today was " artificially convoluted ", " mysterious" composition of the same.

Until the early 19th century consisted only of such circular letter combinations; the exclamation mark behind the circle appeared only on 1820-1830.

Meanings of the Circle

Variants of the mission statement:

• Vivant fratres coniuncti < connection name; eg: Guestphaliae >: It may associated brothers live
• Vivat vicious fratrum < connection name; eg: Hassorum >: Long live the Circle of Brothers
• Vivat crescat, floreat < connection name; eg: Germania >: Long live, grow, flourish

From 1795 sparked " Vivat vicious fratrum ... " before the common meaning " Vivant fratres coniuncti ... " from. The initials FFA in the circle stand for " honor, freedom, homeland ," but as " Vivat, crescat floreat ... " read. At the Circle of W.K.St.V. Unitas pride rock can be the meaning of the elements identified:

Crescat

Floreat

Unitas

Pride rock

Use

The compass is set by Korporierten behind the signature, if they make them in " corporation affairs." In affiliation with several compounds, these circles are added in accession sequence downstream of the signature. In black compounds, ie compounds which carry neither colors nor lead colors, the circle is often the only distinguishing feature. Some compounds formed through mergers of two or more predecessor compounds also lead more than a compass, for example, the VDSt Strasbourg -Hamburg- Rostock.

Stock charged set the batch sign (x, xx, xxx, FM) behind the circle.

In the typewriter set of circles is often replaced by "Z ", for some compounds by other letters or combinations of letters with exclamation marks. Due to the possibilities of the computer is set to the official letters of a compound more on circle graphs, which show the connection belonging to the person concerned.

Students and university historical significance have circles in Karzern, for example, in Erlangen, Greifswald, Heidelberg and Leipzig.

The exclamation point

The exclamation point is first detectable and thus probably younger than the oldest circle Writing in 1797 as punctuation. Behind the intertwined letters of the circle first appeared at in 1820-1830.

Most likely, the exclamation mark refers to the imperative aspect of Vivat! than opt. Therefore also explains the occasional appending three exclamation marks after the circle until about 1850, since these to three times the request of Vivat! Crescat! Floreat! relate.

There are also other interpretations which are not occupied but overall than later interpretations contemporary. Thus, some argue, the exclamation point symbolizes the principle of unconditional satisfaction with the weapon; at the beginning of the 19th century, however, for this is the (more or less abstracted ) sign of upward-pointing, crossed bats usual.

Others are of the opinion that the call sign is a sign that the connection is still active, or that it symbolizes the old boys shaft as a line and the Aktivitas as a point. Frets without active mode should be recognizable by the absence of the exclamation mark and the point, which, however, in practice, is not the case. In addition, there are organized Altherren properties, to which the line of the call sign could refer only since the second half of the 19th century. Such meanings are attributed to the exclamation, especially in relatively young connections.

Corps Hassia

Detention

Fraternitas Metropolitana (Riga)