Austria's Deceptively Super-Violent Flag


It Seems Simple
Two red bars, one white bar.  Many countries have emblazoned their flags with three bars. Red is common and often rumored to represent blood - the blood that revolutionaries lost in attaining independence or a better government.  As for the red of Austria's flag, it also represents blood, but not the blood of its citizens.
Crusade
Legend holds that the red bars of this flag represent the blood of its enemies - more specifically the blood of Muslims killed by Leopold V, Duke of Austria.  During the Third Crusade's Siege of Acre (1191), Leopold V killed so many soldiers that his white clothes were stained with blood - except for the area covered by his belt.  Once removed, the belt-covered area was still white and the colors were adopted by his army (and eventually all of Austria).  


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