On January 7, 1797, one of Italy's most recognizable symbols was born: the tricolor. "Selected by the Constituent Assembly as the flag of the new State, it now symbolizes the noble values enshrined in the Constitution: unity, freedom, democracy, and the nation's social cohesion", stated President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on this occasion. On January 7, 1797, in Reggio Emilia, the Parliament of the Cispadane Republic chose the green, white, and red flag as its national symbol, as proposed by Giuseppe Compagnoni. The three colours were inspired by the model of the revolutionary French flag and by the banners of Italian military units that fought alongside Napoleon’s army. White and red are particularly reminiscent of Milan's coat of arms, while green was previously present in the Milanese Civic Guard uniforms. During the Napoleonic period, the tricolor spread across the Jacobin republics that arose in Italy, progressively transforming from a purely military or dynastic symbol into an emblem representing the people, liberty, and the concept of nationhood. Following the Restoration, the flag was prohibited; however, it persisted in appearing during the Risorgimento uprisings, emerging as the emblematic symbol of the fight for independence. In 1848, Carlo Alberto officially adopted it for the troops of the Kingdom of Sardinia, superimposing the Savoy shield. The Tricolour became the national flag with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, though its official design was not legally adopted until 1925. Following the establishment of the Republic, the new flag was officially designated on June 19, 1946, by the Constituent Assembly and incorporated into Article 12 of the Constitution, which states: “The flag of the Republic is the Italian tricolor: green, white, and red, in vertical bands of equal dimensions".