Austria-Hungary's Army Flag: A Symbol Of Empire

The Austro-Hungarian Empire used a variety of flags to represent its territories, including regimental colours, coats of arms, and flags representing the Austrian and Hungarian halves of the empire. The flag of the Habsburg Monarchy, for example, was used to represent Cisleithania (the Austrian half), while the Kingdom of Hungary's flag was used to represent Transleithania (the Hungarian half). The Austro-Hungarian military also used a two-colour flag, which was similar to flags used by certain Nazi German units.

The Austrian-Hungarian Empire's military flags

The Austrian half of the Empire, also known as Cisleithania, used a flag representing the Habsburg Monarchy. This flag was the closest Austria-Hungary had to an Empire-wide flag and was sometimes used informally. The Hungarian half of the Empire, also known as Transleithania, did not legally have one flag per the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement of 1868, so Hungary and Croatia displayed their respective flags jointly.

Whenever the joint Hungarian-Croatian Parliament held its session in Budapest, both the Croatian and Hungarian flags were hoisted on the parliament building. In Vienna, in front of Schönbrunn Palace, the black and gold flag was flown for Cisleithania, while both Croatian and Hungarian flags were flown for Transleithania. Hungary proper used a red-white-green tricolour defaced with the Hungarian coat of arms, sometimes used to represent the entirety of the Lands of the Hungarian Crown.

Certain Nazi German units used flags "in tradition" with Austria-Hungary, and a similar flag is shown in the Davis/McGregor *Flags of the Third Reich 1: Wermacht*.

The flag of the Habsburg Monarchy

The flag of the Kingdom of Hungary was used to represent Transleithania, or the Hungarian half of the Empire. This flag was a red-white-green tricolour defaced with the Hungarian coat of arms.

In all joint Croatian and Hungarian affairs, symbols of both Croatia and Hungary had to be used. This included flying both flags on the parliament building in Budapest when the joint Hungarian-Croatian Parliament was in session. In Vienna, the black and gold flag was flown for Cisleithania in front of Schönbrunn Palace, while both Croatian and Hungarian flags were flown for Transleithania.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire also had military flags, including an original Austrian cavalry standard from 1769 patterned from the time of Maria Theresia. The shield on this flag displays the arms of Empress Maria Theresia, as she was the Queen of Bohemia and Hungary in her own right and Empress Consort of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Kingdom of Hungary's flag

The Kingdom of Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which also included the Kingdom of Croatia. In all joint Croatian and Hungarian affairs, symbols of both Croatia and Hungary had to be used. For example, whenever the joint Hungarian-Croatian Parliament held its session in Budapest, both the Croatian and Hungarian flags were hoisted on the parliament building. In Vienna, in front of Schönbrunn Palace, the black and gold flag was flown for Cisleithania (the Austrian half of the Empire), while both Croatian and Hungarian flags were flown for Transleithania (the Hungarian half).

The flag of the Kingdom of Hungary also featured a coat of arms variant without supporters. This flag was used to represent Transleithania, which was also known as the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen. Transleithania did not legally have one flag, per the Croatian-Hungarian Settlement of 1868, so Hungary and Croatia displayed their respective flags jointly.

The Austrian half of the Empire

The Austrian half of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, also known as Cisleithania, used the flag of the Habsburg Monarchy. This flag was the closest the Empire had to an Empire-wide flag, and was sometimes used informally as such. The flag was often used in propaganda and art from the time. In front of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the black and gold flag was flown for Cisleithania.

The Hungarian half of the Empire

Whenever the joint Hungarian-Croatian Parliament held its session in Budapest, both the Croatian and Hungarian flags were hoisted on the parliament building. In Vienna, in front of Schönbrunn Palace, the black and gold flag was flown for Cisleithania (the Austrian half), while both Croatian and Hungarian flags were flown for Transleithania.

The Flag Heritage Foundation and the Military History Museum in Vienna, Austria, have an original Austrian cavalry standard from 1769, which features the arms of Empress Maria Theresia, who was the Queen of Bohemia and Hungary and Empress Consort of the Holy Roman Empire.

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