Thuringia

The flag of Thuringia (Freistaat Thüringen) features the state coat of arms on a white-over-red horizontal bicolor. The arms display a blue-and-white-striped lion rampant on a red shield, surrounded by eight silver stars. The lion is derived from the heraldic lion of the medieval Landgraves of Thuringia and is distinguished by its blue and white horizontal stripes — reminiscent of the Hessian lion, reflecting shared Ludovingian heritage. The eight stars represent the eight former principalities that were merged to form the state. Thuringia is also styled a 'Freistaat' (Free State) like Bavaria and Saxony.