White flag: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:40, 7 October 2005

Revision as of 09:34, 20 October 2005

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Persons carrying a white flag are expected to maintain neutrality, and may not engage in warlike acts. Legend states that Viking [[Erik the Red]] started this tradition by using white shields as a means of surrender. The improper use of a white flag is forbidden by the [[rules of war]] and constitutes a [[war crime]] of [[perfidy]]. There were several reports of [[Iraqi insurgency|insurgent]] fighters using white flags as a ruse to approach and attack [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Coalition of the Willing|Coalition]] forces during the early days of [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]] in early [[2003]].

TheDuring the period of the [[Ancien Régime]], the royal standard of [[France]] was once a plain white flag. (toThe whichpersonnal standard of the king added a [[fleur-de-lys]] waspattern laterto added, andit. whichIt was replaced by the [[Flag of France|Tricolor]]). Induring the [[BuddhistFrench Revolution|Revolution]] countries,of white1789. isDuring the colourtwo of[[Restauration]] mourning,periods soin aFrance, the white flag iswas usedreestablished. whereIt otherwas culturesdefinitively mightabandonned flyin a [[black flag]]1830.

In [[Buddhist]] countries, white is the colour of mourning, so a white flag is used where other cultures might fly a [[black flag]].

==Use in fiction==