New 3x5 National Flag of Germany German Country Flags

One theory of the origin of this design holds that the black and gold combination relates to the colors on the semi-official coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. These two colors would find their way into the flag of the Austrian Empire, created in 1804 by the last ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Francis II. Within two years, and following Napoleon's victory over Austria at Austerlitz, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist.