Stories & Legends
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The Noble Origin of the Austrian Flag
The medieval origin of the Austrian flag
Well, according to legend, the flag came about because of the bravery of Duke Leopold V of Austria.
The pivotal siege of Acre in the Holy Land – which lasted from August 1189 until July 1191 – formed part of the Third Crusade. The city's coastal position posed problems for the Latin force led by Guy of Jerusalem and, at the same time, did not allow Saladin to fully relieve it since both sides received supplies and resources by sea. And so the siege continued without a clear victory on either side.
In the final year of the conflict, the situation for the Catholics was dire after their leader Duke Frederick VI of Swabia was killed. It was then that Duke of Austria Leopold V arrived, combining forces with King Richard the Lionheart and King Phillip Augustus, and secured the Christian victory.
Duke Leopold removes his waist sash after the battle & the striking red-white-red stripes appears
After the battle, when Duke Leopold V removed his belt from his blood-drenched coat, the cloth beneath it appeared white and unstained, revealing the combination of red-white-red. To commemorate his feats in this bloody battle, he chose to adopt this striking image as his banner.
Later, as we see commemorated in the picture below, he presented his new banner to Emperor Henry VI, who officially acknowledged the bravery of the Duke Leopold and the role he had played in the victory for the Crusaders.
Since the days of Rudolph of Habsburg (1218 –1291), the first Emperor of the Holy Roman German Empire from the House of Habsburg, the combination of red-white-red was considered to be the Austrian colors used by the ruling Habsburg dynasty.
Duke of Austria Leopold V receiving the banner
from Emperor Henry VI
Posted May 18, 2024
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