The Cispadane Republic (Italian: Repubblica Cispadana) was a short-lived client republic located in northern Italy, founded in 1796 with the protection of the French army, led by Napoleon Bonaparte. In the following year, it was merged with the Transpadane Republic (formerly the Duchy of Milan until 1796) to form the Cisalpine Republic. The Cispadane Republic was the first Italian sovereign state to adopt the Italian tricolour as its flag.
History
On 16 October 1796, a congress was held in Modena after the ruler, Duke Hercules III, had fled to Venice to escape the French advance. The congress was formed by representatives from the provinces of Modena, Bologna, Ferrara and Reggio Emilia, all located south of the Po; Cispadane indicates "on this side of (the river) Po", with the corresponding Transpadane indicating "across (the river) Po".
The congress was unofficially organized by Napoleon, whose French army had swept through northern Italy earlier in the year, and who needed to settle the situation in Italy and gather new troops for an offensive against Austria.
The congress proclaimed that the four provinces would form the Repubblica Cispadana: a civic guard, composed of mounted hunters and artillery, was formed. In the 7 January 1797 session, in Reggio Emilia, the congress decided to form a government.
The flag, the first tricolour in Italy, was a horizontal tricolour, with red (top), white and green stripes. In the centre was an emblem composed of a quiver, accolade to a war trophy, with four arrows that symbolized the four provinces forming the Republic, all within a crown of bay. The Cispadane Republic was the first Italian sovereign state to adopt the Italian tricolour as its flag.
On 29 June 1797, the Cispadane Republic united with the Transpadane Republic to form the Cisalpine Republic.