Leopold V.

Leopold V, born to Henry II and Theodora, a Byzantine princess, succeeds his father as Duke of Austria and Styria in 1177.

On the Family Tree however, he is not the central figure in the picture dedicated to him. Leopold kneels before Emperor Henry VI, from whom he receives a red-white-red flag, later to become the Austrian national flag. Behind the emperor are King Philip II of France and King Richard I, the Lionheart, of England.

The scene recalls the conquest of Acre from the third crusade in around 1190. This is an extremely bloody affair lasting over 2 years. Leopold is supposed to have removed his sword belt after a battle leaving a white stripe across a blood-soaked tunic. According to legend this is the origin of the red-white-red of the Babenberg coat of arms - and ultimately of the Austrian national flag. Latest research shows however, that the coat of arms can be traced back to the heraldic banner of the Eppensteins, a noble medieval family.

Although the castle in the back left is Austrian in style, it probably represents the fort at Acre. In the foreground we find Leopold’s coat of arms, comprising the red-white-red shield, 5 eagle coat of arms and panther coat of arms from Styria.