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Cispadane Republic (1797) (Italy)

Cispadana

by Mario Fabretto, 9 January 1997

Overview

See also:

Other Sites:

Bandiera della Repubblica Cispadana (in Italian)
Bandiera della Repubblica Cispadana

Overview

The very first "Italian" flag (7 January 1797). An horizontal tricolour red - white - green with the the republican arms in the middle.
Alessandro Martinelli, 29 January 1996

The revolt in Modena-Reggio took effect on 26 August 1796 and the Republic of Reggio (later Emiliana Republic) was proclaimed . Probably the colors green, white and red (horizontal) were used. French troops arrive on 13 October.
Modena, Ferrara and Bolonia proclaimed each one as a republic probably with also the same colors. The Cispadana federation was created (Congress of 16-18 October) and later became Republic on 28 December 1796. The emblem (four arrows) was adopted on 2 January 1797 and the arms on 3 January.The flag was adopted on 7 January 1797.On 25 January It was proposed to add a fifth arrow in arms, devoted to Massa-Carrara (that adhered to the Republic) but if it was made is unknown. The flag really was in use after 25 February and was supressed de facto on 19 May 1797.
Cispadana and Transpadana were merged (and also the province of Novara was merged) and the Cisalpina republic was created on 30 June 1797.Cisalpina adopted flag on 11 May 1798. It was Occupited by Austria (1799) and was restored (1800) after Marengo. On january 1802 took the name of Italian Republic (later, 1805, Kingdom of Italy (1805-1814)).
Jaume Olle', 13 October 1998

The design of the emblem used on the national flag of the Cispadan Republic has been found only in 1963 on a very rare document issued 19 May 1797! So even the flag of one of the most important states is known from descriptions and only one image!
Mario Fabretto, 14 October 1998

I located a photo of a flag at <www.quirinale.it>.
Mark Sensen, 31 October 2000

Translated From <www.geniusnet.it>: "From the proceedings [verbals] of Session XIV of the Cispadano Congress [this was probably a congress formed by a group of regions from the Padana Valley on the lower side of the Po River] Reggio Emilia, January 7, 1797, at 11:00 a.m.. Patriotic Hall. The intervened are 100, deputies from the populations of Bologna, Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio Emilia. Joseph Compagnoni of Lugo [some small town in that area] makes a motion that the Cispadana tri color Flag, Green, White, and Red becomes universal, and that these three colors be used also in the Cispadana arm band (ribbon), which should be carried by everyone. It [the motion] is decreed ".
Dov Gutterman, 15 July 2001 and Raffaele Di Cecca, 6 August 2001