What Are the Symbols on the Austrian Flag and What Do They Mean?
With a design that dates back to 1191, the red and white striped flag of Austria is one of the oldest national flags in the world. Said to be first inspired by a battle in the Crusades, the flag is still flown today as Austria's national banner.
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Flag Features
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The Austrian flag consists of three equal horizontal strips. The top and bottom stripes are red, and the middle stripe is white.
Flag Origins
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Legend claims that the flag design was invented in 1191, when during a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood soaked. Upon removal of his belt, a white band was revealed, and that very sight is said to have inspired the Duke to use the red, white and red stripes as his personal banner. Half a century later, this design was adopted for use as Austria's unofficial banner and ultimately as the nation's official flag.
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Flag History
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The current version of the Austrian flag was adopted for use in 1230 by Duke Frederick II of the Babenberg dynasty, who designed a new coat of arms in red-white-red in an attempt to become more independent from the Holy Roman Empire.
Subsequently, both the Babenberg and the Habsburg dynasties used the red, white and red colors in connection with their Austrian territories, even though the national flag of Austria was black and yellow until 1918. Following military defeat in World War I, the newly formed Republic of Austria adopted red, white and red as its national flag. This is still the flag used today.
Flag Variants
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The Austrian State flag has three equal horizontal bands of red, white and red, but also carries a coat of arms in its middle. Adopted in 1945, the coat of arms consists of an eagle bearing a mural crown and carrying a hammer and sickle with broken chains around its talons. The eagle represents Austria's sovereignty, the mural crown represents the middle class, the sickle represents agriculture, the hammer represents industry and the broken chains represent Austria's liberation from the Nazis. This version of the flag is used by Austria's military and government agencies.
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