Alieness in Inscriptions and Alien Inscriptions. Alterity and Strangeness as Reflected in Pre-Modern Inscriptions from Central Europe

This article examines images of (primarily religious, but – at least implicitly also ethnic) otherness as featured by late medieval inscriptions from Austria and its neighbours. As an introduction to the topic, author first presents a 19th-century epitaph South Tyrol (Italy) that is dedicated memory youth originating (modern) Sudan who, following his baptism, was brought Europe mentor, Tyrolean missionary. The exemplary religious lifestyle Catholic young man honoured on stone seems have been directed local Christians exhortation develop more zeal. Second, study assesses memorial erected in 1304 Benedictines Altenburg Abbey, commemorating (pagan) Cumans were killed grounds desertion (as military allies Austrian duke campaigns against king Bohemia) assaults (Christian) civilian population battle, whom 104 finally buried abbot monks mass grave close monastery. A younger inscription (dating second half 14th century) serves epigraphic admonition believers entering (what now) St Stephen’s Cathedral Vienna refrain pagan idolatry, appeal staged presenting (today lost) statuettes either antique or Cumanic origin. Finally, text investigates lavish tomb slabs two Gypsy leaders (from early 16th Pforzheim Tulln, who respective churches. Highlighting sharp contrast between predominantly negative image alien pagans earlier monuments self-conception chiefs assimilated their ultimate media remembrance, points out process othering served foster common self-conceptions Christian majority society.