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The history of the French flag, commonly known as the Tricolore, dates back to the French Revolution in the late 18th century. However, it’s important to note that the concept of a tricolor flag in France has roots in earlier periods.

1. Ancient France: The ancient flags of the regions that later became France varied widely, and there was no standardized national flag. In the Middle Ages, the kings of France often used a blue banner decorated with gold fleurs-de-lis, representing the lily flower.
2. Bourbon Dynasty: The Bourbon monarchy that ruled France from the 16th to the 18th centuries continued the use of the blue banner with fleurs-de-lis. This flag is often referred to as the Bourbon flag.
3. French Revolution (1789-1799): The French Revolution, which began in 1789, led to radical political and social changes. In 1790, the revolutionaries adopted a new national cockade (rosette) combining the colors of Paris (blue and red) with the royal white. This tricolor cockade became a symbol of the revolution.
4. The Tricolore (1794): The design of the modern French flag emerged during the French Revolution. On February 15, 1794, the French National Convention officially adopted the Tricolore as the national flag. The flag consisted of three vertical stripes of equal width: blue on the hoist side, white in the middle, and red on the fly side.

   The colors of the Tricolore were said to represent the ideals of the revolution:

   • Blue: Liberty
   • White: Equality
   • Red: Fraternity

   The design is attributed to various sources, and it’s not entirely clear who proposed it first.

5. Napoleonic Era (19th Century): Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose to power in the early 19th century, maintained the Tricolore. However, the royalists briefly reintroduced the Bourbon white flag during the Bourbon Restoration (1814-1830).
6. July Monarchy and Second Republic: The Tricolore was readopted during the July Monarchy (1830-1848) and continued during the Second Republic (1848-1852).
7. Second Empire (1852-1870): During the Second Empire under Napoleon III, the Tricolore was maintained.
8. Third Republic (1870-1940): The Tricolore became firmly established as the national flag during the Third Republic and has remained the French national flag through subsequent republics and changes in government.

The design of the French Tricolore has become iconic and is recognized globally as a symbol of France. It represents not only the revolutionary ideals but also the enduring principles of the French Republic.