During the Napoleonic Wars, decisive French victory 6 July 1809 over the Austrians led by the Archduke Charles near Wagram, an Austrian village 18 km/11 mi northeast of Vienna. Austria was forced to concede general defeat to Napoleon.
Red, white, and blue are the pan-Slav colours. The small shields represent Croatia Ancient, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia. The flag is based on the tricolour used during World War II. Effective date: 22 December 1990.