Towards the end of 1860 when under control of Russia, one student found writing in an old chronicle illustrating events in the late 13 th centruy, revealing that a flag with red (reddish brown), white, and red (reddish brown) existed then and it was thought to be used by ethnic groups. It is said that that flag was originally a white cloth soaked in blood used to wrap wounds of a Latvian person, hurt from battle with the Estonians.