Flag of Austria

The '''flag of [[Austria]]''' has three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red. The Austrian [[Triband (flag)|triband]] is the second-oldest flag in use at least since 1230, after the [[flag of Denmark|Danish flag]] (which has been in use since 1219). === Origins === The flag traces back to the coat of arms of the medieval [[House of Babenberg|Babenberg dynasty]], a silver [[fess|band]] on a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (in [[heraldry]]: ''[[Gules]] a fess [[Argent]]''). The origin of the ''Bindenschild'' has not been conclusively established, it possibly derived from the [[March of Styria|Styrian]] margraves of the [[Otakars|Otakar]] noble family, who themselves may have adopted the colours from the descendants of the [[Duchy of Carinthia|Carinthian]] duke [[Adalbero, Duke of Carinthia|Adalbero]] (ruled 1011-1035), a scion of the House of [[Eppenstein]] extinct in 1122. However, already the Babenberg margrave [[Leopold III, Margrave of Austria|Leopold III of Austria]] (1095-1136) was depicted with a triband shield in 1105. [[File:Frederick II, Duke of Austria.jpg|thumb|left|19th century draft of the seal of Duke Frederick II]] When the last Otakar Duke [[Ottokar IV, Duke of Styria|Ottokar IV of Styria]] died in 1192, the [[Duchy of Styria|Styrian duchy]] was inherited by the Babenberg duke [[Leopold V, Duke of Austria|Leopold V of Austria]] according to the 1186 [[Georgenberg Pact]]. According to the 18th century historian [[Chrysostomus Hanthaler]], his grandson Duke [[Frederick II, Duke of Austria|Frederick II of Austria]] (1230-1246), [[nickname]]d the "Quarrelsome" or the "Warlike", the last of the Babenberg dynasty, designed a new coat of arms in red-white-red after his accession—an attempt to prevail against reluctant local nobles and to stress his autonomy towards Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]]. The triband is first documented in a seal on a deed issued on 30 November 1230, confirming the privileges of [[Lilienfeld Abbey]]. The medieval chronicler [[Jans der Enikel]] reports that the duke appeared in a red-white-red ceremonial dress at his 1232 [[accolade]] in the Vienna [[Schottenstift, Vienna|Schottenstift]]. The Babenberg family colors developed to the coat of arms of their Austrian possessions. After the dynasty had become extinct with Frederick's death at the 1246 [[Battle of the Leitha River]], they were adopted by his [[Přemyslid dynasty|Přemyslid]] successor King [[Ottokar II of Bohemia]]. Upon the 1278 [[Battle on the Marchfeld]] the colours were assumed by the victorious [[House of Habsburg]] and gradually became the coat of arms of the dynasty's Hereditary Lands within the [[Habsburg Monarchy]]. === Legend === [[File:Herzog Leopold V. Babenberg.jpg|thumb|Duke Leopold V, kneeling, receives the red-white-red banner by Emperor [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VI]], Babenberger Stammbaum, Klosterneuburg monastery, about 1490]] According to legend, the flag was already invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria as a consequence of his fighting during the [[Siege of Acre (1189–1191)|Siege of Acre]]. After a fierce battle, his white surcoat was completely drenched in blood. When he removed his belt, the cloth underneath was untouched by it, revealing the combination of red-white-red. So taken was he by this singular sight that he adopted the colors and scheme as his banner. The incident was already documented about 1260, though it is highly unlikely. In fact, the [[Flags of the Holy Roman Empire|war flag of the Holy Roman Empire]] during the crusades was a silver cross on a red field quite similar to the later Austrian arms. This ensign was used by the Austrian capital [[Vienna]] from the late 13th century onwards. === Use during the Monarchy === Since the days of [[Rudolph I of Germany|Rudolph of Habsburg]] and the 1283 [[Treaty of Rheinfelden]], the combination of red-white-red was widely considered to be the [[Archduchy of Austria|Austrian]] (later also [[Inner Austria]]n) colours used by the ruling Habsburg dynasty. However, the ''national flag'' (in a modern sense) of the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy, like the later [[Austrian Empire]] and the [[Cisleithania]]n part of [[Austria-Hungary]] until 1918, was black-yellow. These were the family colours of the Imperial House of Habsburg, and were themselves in part derived from the banner of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Beginning in the reign of Emperor [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]], the [[Austro-Hungarian Navy|Austrian, later Austro-Hungarian Navy]] used a [[Austro-Hungarian Navy#Naval flags|Naval Ensign]] (''Marineflagge'') based on the red-white-red colours, and augmented with a shield of similar colours. Both of these flags became obsolete with Austria-Hungary's dissolution in 1918, and the newly formed rump state of [[German Austria]] adopted the red-white-red triband as its national flag. ==Similar designs used elsewhere== Red-white-red coulour sequences are the [[national colours]] of several other countries: {{Begin flag gallery}} {{Flag entry|Width=210|Image=Flag of French Polynesia.svg|Caption=[[Flag of French Polynesia]]}} {{Flag entry|Width=210|Image=Flag of Lebanon.svg|Caption=[[Flag of Lebanon]]}} {{Flag entry|Width=210|Image=Flag of Latvia.svg|Caption=[[Flag of Latvia]]}} {{Flag entry|Width=210|Image=Flag of Peru.svg|Caption=[[Flag of Peru]]}} {{End flag gallery}} The [[Flag of French Polynesia]] bears a close resemblance, showing the emblem of sun and sea in white field. The French Polynesian flag has similar red stripes with [[Spanish fess]]. The [[flag of Lebanon]] bears a close resemblance, showing the [[green]] [[Lebanon cedar|cedar]] in white field. The Lebanese flag has similar upper-down red stripes with [[Spanish fess]]. One theory on the flag's design holds that since Lebanese member of parliament [[Henri Pharaon]], who was involved in the making of the flag, was a long-time consul in [[Vienna]] and was an avid friend and founder of the "Austro-Lebanese Association of Friendship", the colors could have been inspired by the Austrian flag. The [[flag of Latvia]] uses unusual colour ([[maroon (color)|maroon]], "Latvian red") and unequal horizontal bands. One version of the origin of the Latvian flag also parallels that of the Austrian flag. The [[flag of Peru]] resembles the colours, but has its bands aligned vertically. The same design is also used to mark "No entry" on European inland waterways. [[File:2003 Austria 20 Euro The Post-War Period front.jpg|130px|thumb|The Post-War Period Silver Coin]] ==Austrian flag coin== The Austrian flag has been the main motif of many collector coins. One of the most recent examples is the 20 euro [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Austria)#2003 coinage|Post War Period coin]], issued by the [[Republic of Austria]] on 17 September 2003. The obverse of this coin shows the [[Coat of arms of Austria|Austrian coat of arms]] flanked by the Austrian flag and the [[flag of europe|European Union flag]]. [[File:Flag-of-Austria-320x240.ogg|thumb|the flag of Austria]] == See also == * [[List of Austrian flags]] * [[Flags of Austrian states]] * [[Coat of arms of Austria]] * [[Austria-Hungary]] ==External links== *[http://zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr/descr/ah.html Flag of Austria-Hungary] *[http://peter-diem.at/bundeswappen.htm ''The Symbols of Austria''] {{-}} {{Flag of Europe}} {{nationalflags}}