Lorraine

The flag of Lorraine features a striking design of a golden diagonal band bearing three silver alerions (stylized eagles without beaks or talons) on a red field. The alerions are a unique heraldic charge particular to Lorraine, said to commemorate a legendary arrow shot by Duke Godfrey of Bouillon that pierced three birds in flight during the First Crusade. The Cross of Lorraine — a double-barred cross — became a worldwide symbol of Free France during World War II when Charles de Gaulle adopted it, but the provincial flag itself uses the older alerion-bearing arms. The gold bend on red creates a bold diagonal composition.