How a white flag became the symbol for surrender and the history behind it’s meaning

The white flag has become the internationally recognized symbol of surrender and its use stems from a long history of practical and symbolic uses.

The use of white cloth to signal a desire for peace or surrender dates back to ancient times. Roman historian Livy recorded Carthaginians using “white wool and branches of olive” to signal defeat in the Second Punic War (218 B.C.). The Roman historian Tacitus also mentions white flags being displayed in A.D. 69.

In ancient and medieval warfare, undyed white cloth was likely readily available from soldiers’ clothing or supplies. It was also highly visible and stood out against the typically colorful banners and battlefields, making it an effective signal.

The color white has long been associated with peace, purity, and innocence in many cultures. Displaying white could have been a way to signify a desire to cease hostilities, to show one’s unarmed status, or to appeal for mercy. Some historians suggest that in the Mediterranean, wearing white cloth for worship might have influenced its use as a sign of placing oneself at the mercy of others, including the gods.

Beyond outright surrender, the white flag was also used to signal a desire for a truce, a ceasefire, or to open communication and negotiation between warring parties. It indicated that an approaching individual was unarmed and sought to communicate rather than fight. Heralds in medieval times often carried white wands to distinguish themselves.

The widespread recognition of the white flag was cemented in international law during the 19th century. The Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 formally codified the rules of warfare, explicitly stating that a person carrying a white flag to communicate with an enemy “has a right to inviolability” (freedom from attack). This made it a protected sign, making it a reliable and universally understood signal.

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