German poet. The greatest of the Minnesingers, his songs dealt mainly with courtly love. Of noble birth, he lived in his youth at the Austrian ducal court in Vienna, adopting a wandering life after the death of his patron in 1198. His lyrics deal mostly with love, but also with religion and politics.
Green represents fertility. Yellow stands for sunshine. Black recalls the people's African origins. Red symbolizes the struggle for liberty. Effective date: 19 September 1983.