Flag of AUSTRIA

A high qality image of the flag of Austria

The Austrian flag is considered to be the oldest flag in use.  The flag has three horizontal bands, which are colored red and white.  The legend behind the flag of how the colors came about started with Duke Leopold V of Austria.  During one of his fierce crusade battles his white battle dress was drenched in blood.  When Duke Leopold V removed his belt, the cloth underneath was untouched by blood revealing a red and white combination.  Impressed by what he saw he adopted the colors and scheme as his banner.  In 1230 Duke Friedrich II adopted the design of the flag as an attempt to become more independent from the Holy Roman Empire.  There have been other different flags for Austria, but in 1918 the red and white scheme was set again as the official flag.