Question: where did the white flag of surrender come from

title: White flag
text: The first mention of the usage of white flags to surrender is made during the Eastern Han dynasty ( AD 25 -- 220 ) . In the Roman Empire , the historian Cornelius Tacitus mentions a white flag of surrender in AD 109 . Before that time , Roman armies would surrender by holding their shields above their heads . The white flag was widely used in the Middle Ages in Western Europe to indicate an intent to surrender . The color white was used generally to indicate a person was exempt from combat ; heralds bore white wands , prisoners or hostages captured in battle would attach a piece of white paper to their hat or helmet , and garrisons that had surrendered and been promised safe passage would carry white batons . Australian 

Answer: answer: The first mention of the usage of white flags to surrender is made during the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25 -- 220).
The white flag was widely used in the Middle Ages in Western Europe to indicate an intent to surrender.
answer: The first mention of the usage of white flags to surrender is made during the Eastern Han dynasty (AD 25 -- 220).