Flag of Austria
Description
- Three equal horizontal stripes of red-white-red, one of the oldest flag designs in the world
- Inspired by the legend of Duke Leopold V's bloodstained tunic during the Siege of Acre in 1191
Trivia
- The red-white-red design dates to 1191, making it one of Europe's oldest national symbols
- Legend says Duke Leopold V dropped his white belt during battle, leaving a white stripe on his bloodstained red shield
- Austria's flag is among the few with three stripes of equal width in these specific colours
Flag of Austria
Austria claims one of the world's oldest continuously used national flag designs, with documented use since 1230 originating from the Babenberg dynasty's arms. A popular legend attributes the design to Duke Leopold V, who allegedly discovered the red-white-red pattern when removing his blood-soaked belt during the Siege of Acre in 1191, revealing unstained cloth beneath.
The red symbolizes valor and courage, while white represents enduring peace and integrity. Though Emperor Joseph II adopted these colours for the naval flag in 1786, the imperial black-yellow remained official until the monarchy's end in 1918. The red-white-red design finally became the official flag of the Austrian Republic on 1 May 1945.
json:data
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"title": "Flag of Austria",
"ratio": "2:3",
"use": {
"as": "national flag and ensign",
"since": "1945-05-01"
},
"colors": [
{
"color": "red",
"hex": "#ED2939",
"cmyk": "0/86/76/7",
"note": "Symbolizes courage, strength, and sacrifice",
"pantone": "186 C"
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{
"color": "white",
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"note": "Represents purity, peace, and neutrality"
}
],
"desc": "- Three equal horizontal stripes of red-white-red, one of the oldest flag designs in the world\n - Inspired by the legend of Duke Leopold V's bloodstained tunic during the Siege of Acre in 1191",
"article": "austria/flag.md",
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"trivia": "- The red-white-red design dates to 1191, making it one of Europe's oldest national symbols\n - Legend says Duke Leopold V dropped his white belt during battle, leaving a white stripe on his bloodstained red shield\n - Austria's flag is among the few with three stripes of equal width in these specific colours",
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