Leopold V (1157 – 31 December 1194), Babenberger, Duke of Austria.
Siege of Acre, July 1191.

Leopold is mainly remembered outside Austria for his participation in the Third Crusade. Border disputes with King Béla III of Hungary had initially impeded the duke from accompanying Emperor Frederick on his departure in May 1189. When he heard about the emperor's death in 1190, he went to Venice, where he embarked to the Holy Land. Autumn storms forced him to winter in Zadar on the Adriatic coast. He arrived in Palestine to take part in the final stage of the Siege of Acre in spring 1191. Leopold assumed command of the remnants of the Imperial forces after the death of the emperor's son Duke Frederick of Swabia in January. According to legend, his tunic was blood-soaked after the fights. When he doffed his belt, a white stripe appeared. The new emperor Henry VI granted him the privilege to adopt these colours as his new banner, that later would become the flag of Austria.

Painted by Viktor Osipenko
puttyandpaint.com/Valatar_Aleanath

  • Bran

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    • Ingvar_L3x

      Thank you! :)

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    Great. Gold

    • Ingvar_L3x

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  • Philippe

    Great Job!

    • Ingvar_L3x

      Thank you! :)

  • NateZhang

    nice freehand,gold

    • Ingvar_L3x

      Thank you very much :)

  • giovannivassena

    Assolutamente Fantastico!!!!!

    • Ingvar_L3x

      Ciao! Grazie Mille!

  • Huby

    beautiful