You’re staring at a screen or a flagpole, and there it is. Three horizontal stripes. Red, white, and then red again. It looks simple, right? Honestly, it’s one of the most common designs in vexillology—the study of flags—and that’s exactly why people get so confused.
If you think you’re looking at Austria, you’re probably right. But you might also be looking at Lebanon, French Polynesia, or even a very specific maritime signal. Context is everything here. People often assume that a flag with three stripes is just a "triband," but the history behind these specific red white red flags is surprisingly deep and, in a few cases, actually quite bloody.
The Austrian Original: Legend vs. Reality
Austria is the big one. It’s one of the oldest national flags in the world. Legend says it started during the Siege of Acre in 1191. Duke Leopold V was in the thick of the Crusades, fighting so hard that his white surcoat was completely soaked in blood. When he took off his wide belt, a single white stripe remained where the leather had protected the fabric.
Cool story. Is it true? Probably not.
Most historians, like those at the Austrian State Archives, point toward the 13th century and the House of Babenberg. Duke Frederick II wanted to distinguish himself from the Holy Roman Empire, so he adopted the red-white-red colors around 1230. It wasn’t about blood-soaked tunics; it was about branding.
Wait.
There’s a nuance here. The Austrian flag comes in two versions. The one you see at a football match or on a souvenir magnet is the civil flag—just the stripes. But the "State Flag" includes the federal eagle (the Bundesadler) in the center. That eagle is holding a hammer and a sickle. Don’t get it twisted; it’s not a communist symbol. It represents the workers and the peasants, while the mural crown on the eagle’s head represents the middle class.
The Cedar of Lebanon: More Than Just Colors
If you see a green tree in the middle of those stripes, you’ve moved from the Alps to the Mediterranean. Lebanon’s version of the red white red flags is unique because the white stripe isn't the same size as the red ones. It’s double the width.
Why? Because the Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani) needs room to breathe.
The red symbolizes the blood shed for liberation—a common theme in flag design—but the white represents the snow on Lebanon’s mountains. It’s a symbol of purity and peace. The tree itself is a biblical reference, mentioned in the Psalms as a symbol of the righteous. Interestingly, the design was born right as the French Mandate was ending in 1943. Businessmen and politicians literally drew it during a legislative meeting to replace the French Tricolour. Talk about a deadline.
The Tropical Variation: French Polynesia
Most people forget about this one. French Polynesia has a flag that looks remarkably like Austria’s at a distance. Red, white, red. But look closer. In the center sits a circular emblem—a traditional outrigger sail boat (a va'a) against a sun and sea background.
✨ Don't miss: Flights from Nashville to Amsterdam: What Most People Get Wrong
The red and white aren't just random choices. They are historical colors of the islands, particularly Tahiti. What’s fascinating is that while this is the official flag of the overseas collectivity, the French national flag still flies alongside it. It’s a dual-identity thing.
If you’re traveling through the South Pacific and see this, you aren't in a lost colony of Vienna. You're in a place where the colors represent the bravery of indigenous navigators who crossed thousands of miles of open ocean.
Why These Colors Keep Showing Up Together
Red and white are the cheapest dyes to produce historically. That’s the boring, pragmatic truth. But visually, they offer the highest contrast possible without using black.
In the maritime world, "Flag Bravo" is a red swallowtail. "Flag Whiskey" has a red border and a white square. But if you see a horizontal red-white-red flag in a naval context, you might be looking at a specific signal or a regional ensign.
The Peru Connection
Peru is often lumped into the red white red flags category, but it’s a vertical triband. If you’re searching for horizontal stripes, Peru isn't your answer. However, if you rotate that flag 90 degrees, you’re back to the Austrian problem.
General José de San Martín supposedly saw a flock of flamingos with red wings and white chests when he arrived in Peru in 1820. He supposedly said, "There is the flag of liberty!" Again, probably a tall tale, but it’s better than "we picked it because it looked nice."
The "Micro" Flags: Cities and States
Sometimes, the flag doesn't belong to a country at all.
- Leuven, Belgium: Their city flag is a perfect red-white-red horizontal triband. It’s almost identical to Austria's. According to local lore, it dates back to 891 when the Vikings were defeated and the river Dyle ran red with blood (there’s that blood theme again).
- Hoorn, Netherlands: Another city with the same color palette, though they often include a unicorn or other heraldry.
- The American Civil War: The "First Stars and Bars" of the Confederacy had three horizontal stripes (red-white-red), though it had a blue canton with stars. It’s a design that has been phased out for obvious reasons, but it pops up in historical textbooks.
Common Misconceptions and Mistakes
You’d be surprised how often professional organizations mess this up. During international summits, protocol officers have accidentally swapped the Austrian flag for Lebanon’s or vice versa.
- Proportions matter. Austria is 2:3. Lebanon is 2:3 but with a double-width middle stripe.
- The Shade of Red. Austria uses a very specific "Fiery Red" (Pantone 186 C). Other regions might use a darker crimson or a brighter scarlet.
- The Orientation. Always check if the stripes are horizontal or vertical.
What This Means for You
If you’re a designer or someone looking to buy a flag, don’t just search for "red and white flag." You'll get everything from Canada to Switzerland to Japan.
Specifically, if you want the red white red flags layout, you need to specify "horizontal triband."
If you are a traveler heading to Vienna, wearing these colors is a sign of national pride. If you’re in Beirut, the cedar tree is the most important part of the image—never draw the flag without it, or you’re essentially drawing a different country.
Actionable Tips for Identification
- Check the middle stripe. Is it the same size as the others? If yes, it's likely Austria or a European city like Leuven.
- Look for a symbol. If there’s a tree, it’s Lebanon. If there’s an eagle, it’s the Austrian State flag. If there’s a boat, it’s French Polynesia.
- Count the stripes. Some flags have five or seven stripes of red and white (like Bremen, Germany). These are "Bacon Flags" and are a whole different category.
- Check the aspect ratio. Some are long and thin; others are nearly square.
The world of flags is messy. It’s full of stolen ideas, coincidental color palettes, and legends about bloody shirts. But that’s what makes it interesting. You aren't just looking at fabric; you're looking at a shortcut for a nation's entire history.
Next time you see those three stripes, look for the subtle clues. Is the red too dark? Is the white stripe too wide? Small details tell you whether you’re in the mountains of Europe or the heart of the Middle East.
If you're trying to source one for an event, always verify the "fips" or the ISO country codes. It's the only way to be 100% sure you aren't flying the wrong banner at your next international meetup.
Anyway, that's the deal with red, white, and red. Simple colors, complicated stories.
Next Steps for Vexillology Enthusiasts
- Verify the specific Pantone shades if you are manufacturing or printing these flags to ensure legal compliance for government use.
- Research the "Flags of the World" (FOTW) database for specific historical variants used during the 19th-century revolutions.
- Examine the "Civil vs. State" distinction for any European flag you intend to display to avoid using a restricted government emblem.