How the white flag became a symbol of an invitation to negotiations and a sign of capitulation
Today, the white flag is perceived as a sign of surrender or a request for negotiations. But when and why did a simple white cloth without inscriptions or symbols acquire this meaning? The history of this symbol goes back to ancient times and is linked not only to military traditions but also to the universal human desire for peace and the preservation of life.
No one can definitively explain why the white flag became the symbol of surrender. Some historians believe it all began in China, most likely as early as the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC – 3rd century AD). It was then that Chinese chronicles first mentioned white flags raised by those wishing to negotiate with the enemy.
But white flags had been used in China before. In this culture, white is the color of mourning and grief for the dead. White flagpoles were a mandatory feature at the funeral ceremonies of warriors and nobles. Over time, they began to be used as a symbol of truce and simply as a sign of surrender to the victor.
According to another version, the color white was already used as a sign of surrender by Roman legionaries. The historian Titus Livy (1st century BC) describes how soldiers wore white armbands to indicate their refusal to continue fighting. Seeing such armbands, the enemy knew they were surrendering.
The Roman historian Tacitus mentions that at the Battle of Cremona, Vitellius's troops raised white flags when surrendering. In ancient Rome, such a sign served as a guarantee: the bearer of the white flag was not engaged in combat and, therefore, would not be attacked. Flags proved more convenient than armbands—they were visible from afar, and dozens of soldiers could take refuge under a single flag.
In the Middle Ages, white flags were already in use throughout Europe. They were the sign of an unarmed envoy going to negotiate or discuss surrender terms. Surrendering soldiers could safely pass through enemy lines with white flags on their poles or with white sashes. Unarmed, of course.
White flags in European armies served another purpose. They marked places on the battlefield where non-combatants were stationed—doctors, priests, and supply workers with baggage trains. Such markers became especially important with the advent of artillery, which could fire beyond line of sight.
Another theory has to do with the navy. In ancient and medieval Asia, a white flag was used to mark a ship carrying an important person—an official or an envoy. The enemy would immediately recognize whether the approaching vessel was a delegation or simply a non-military vessel. In Europe during the same era, by contrast, black flags were often used.
Later, the white flag became common in both Europe and Asia, while the black one became a symbol of mourning. Negotiations were held under white banners, the wounded and dead were carried out, religious ceremonies were held, and prisoner exchanges were held in combat zones. Only the treacherous and dishonorable would ignore this sign—though there were plenty of such cases.
Over time, the white flag became firmly established as a universal signal of a desire to cease fire or negotiate surrender. Heralds—the rulers' envoys—carried white batons, emphasizing their inviolability. In the European wars of the early 20th century, white flags continued to be used to evacuate the wounded, signaling a temporary truce.
With the advent of modern long-range weapons, battles became much more brutal. Both sides increasingly neglected the wounded and honor, and a white flag often meant surrender.
During the First and especially the Second World War, the symbol lost much of its value. It was often used for deception—to draw closer and launch a surprise attack. Japanese troops were particularly guilty of this during battles with the Americans. Because of this, genuine negotiators and capitulators were also often executed, distrusted.
In the case of the Japanese, this tactic backfired: the Americans simply stopped taking prisoners and shot even those who surrendered. According to the Geneva Convention, using a white flag to carry out a cowardly attack is a war crime. So is killing those who sincerely raised it.
Although the white flag is often associated solely with surrender, its meaning is broader. In 1899, the First Hague Peace Conference adopted the Convention Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land. It was there that the white flag was officially established as a symbol of armistice and surrender.
The Hague Convention clearly stated: anyone carrying a white flag is inviolable. They may not be captured, wounded, or killed. A white flag grants the right to a temporary ceasefire for negotiations. These rules are still in effect today—they are included in the Geneva Conventions, signed by almost every country in the world. Raising a white flag is today interpreted as an invitation to dialogue: the enemy is obligated to cease fire and enter into negotiations, which may end in either a truce or surrender.
The white flag has evolved from an ancient Chinese and Roman custom to an official symbol enshrined in international law. Today, it remains a universal signal of hope for peace. But the question arises: isn't it time to expand the white flag's meaning—to make it not only a military symbol but also a universal sign of non-hostility in everyday life? What do you think about this?