The Austrian flag is one of the oldest in the world. It has three horizontal stripes (red-white-red) of equal dimensions, and there are different versions of its origin. The scale of the flag is 2: 3.
Its oldest representation is preserved in a monastery in Lilienfeld, on a shield dating from approximately 1230.
Austria is located in the south of Central Europe and among the most popular versions of the origin of its flag are these two:
- It was devised by Duke Leopold V of Austria, between 1177 and 1194, who is said to have participated in the Third Crusade. At the Battle of Acre in 1191, he saw his suit bloody, except for the part that covered his belt that was left white and decided that this should be the flag.
- It was created in the 13th century by Duke Frederick II of Austria, who sought greater independence from the Germanic Roman Empire, and used the colors of the coat of arms of the family of the A noble family that inhabited the territory that corresponds to present-day Bavaria, during the 10th century.
However, on the latter, heraldry specialists do not agree very much, who believe that these colors derive from the coat of arms of the House of Eppenstein, who ruled Styria in the 10th and 11th centuries.
History of the Austrian flag
During the Astro-Hungarian Empire, there were two flags very different from the current one; one was used for war and the other for commercial matters, but after its fall, a red white red flag began to be used.
After his enthronement, Duke Frederick II of Austria designed a new national shield in red, white and red.
This flag stopped being used from 1918, and after World War II, when the Nazis were defeated, it began to be used again. The date designated as the reinstatement of that flag is May 1, 1945.
This happened under the provisional government of Karl Renner, although it was until 1955, when it became independent from the allies. Since then it is the one used by that country although it has the variant that includes the coat of arms.
Symbology of the flag of Austria
Regardless of the true origin of the Austrian flag, the meaning of its colors indicates that the white color is due to the white clothes that Duke Leopoldo V used to wear. Although its symbolism alludes to honesty and purity as values.
For its part, red represents the strength and heroism of that people. The blood that was shed in the wars its founders fought with courage.
Austrian flag on coin
The Austrian flag has been used for many collectible coins. In 2003, a commemorative coin of the 20th postwar years was circulated.
On its obverse, the shield of the European country is shown flanked by its flag and that of the European Union.
Even though this one with the red stripes at the ends and the white stripe in the middle, it is the national flag, there are other flags in Austria: those of Upper and Lower Austria, the Burgerland, the Carinthian, the Styrian and that of Salzburg.
References
- Absolut Austria (2010). Austria and its flag. Recovered from: absolutviajes.com.
- Austria.info.
- Austria flag (s / f). Austria Flag History. Recovered from: austriaflag.facts.co.
- Flags blog (2012). The oldest national flags in the world. blogdebanderas.com.
- About Austria (2012). History of the flag of Austria. Recovered from: sobreaustria.com.
- Tursimo (s / f). Flag of Austria. Recovered from: turismo.org.