The Flag of Austria - Description of the Austrian Flag
As the above picture of the Austrian Flag indicates the overall background is Red and White
The description of the Austrian Flag is as follows:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Austrian flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Austrian flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The Meaning & History of the Austrian Flag - The Austrian flag was adopted in the 1200's by Frederick II Babenberg as Duke of Austria
The Civil Flag of Austria was adopted on May 1, 1945
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
Austrian Flag Etiquette
Austrian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Austrian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Austrian
State Flag of Austrian
Military Flag of Austrian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Austrian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Austrian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Austrian should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The Austrian flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Austrian should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Austrian flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Austrian, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Austrian Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Austrian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Austrian flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Austrian flag to the top, then lowering the Austrian Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Austrian flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Austrian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Austrian flag
The Austrian flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The Austrian flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The Austrian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Austrian Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Austrian Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource.
Austria
Location:
Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Austrian Land Size : 82,444 sq km
Austrian Climate / Weather : temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Austrian Population : 8,174,762 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) : n/a
Austrian Capital City: Vienna
Austrian GDP: $245.5 billion (2003 est.)
Main Austrian Industries : construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common - barbarian
It is from the greek Keltoi that Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient Austrian civilisations
Concise History of Austria & its Flag
700's Austria came under the rule of Charlemagne, king of the Franks
900s The Magyars from Hungary overran Austrian
955 Otto I of Germany defeated the Magyars and Austria came under German rule
962 Otto I of Germany was crowned as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
976 Otto II gave North-eastern Austria to the Babenberg family
1242 The last Babenberg duke died without an heir
1242 King Ottokar of Bohemia gained control of the Austrian territory
1278 Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf I of the Hapsburg family defeated King Ottokar
1500s The Ottoman Empire invaded Austria
1600s The Ottomans were defeated and driven out of the Austrian region
1618 The Protestants in Bohemia revolted against the Catholic Habsburg emperor starting the Thirty Years' War
1648 The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and the Habsburgs declared Roman Catholicism as the official Austrian religion
1700 The Habsburg king of Spain died
1701-1714 The War of Spanish Succession started between Austria and France and Austria won Belgium and Spain's Italian lands
Late 1700s-1815 The Napoleonic Wars
1815 Napoleon was defeated
1859 Austria declared war on Sardinia and were defeated by Italian and French forces
1867 The Dual-Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was established
1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, was assassinated starting World War I
Austria joined Germany in fighting the Allies
3 November 1918 World War I ended
12 November 1918 The last Habsburg Emperor was overthrown and Austria became a republic 1938 German troops under the rule of Adolf Hitler seized Austrian lands and announced its union
September 1939 World War II starts
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1945 The Allies of World War II defeated Germany
1945 As a result of World War II Austrian territory was divided into American, British, French, and Soviet Zones
1954 The four powers ended their occupation of Austria
1 January 1955 Austria joined the European Union
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The Austrian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Austrian Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
