How Did the Tricolore Flag Originate During the Revolution?

The origin of the French Tricolore (Tricolor) flag is directly linked to the Cockade of France, a circular ribbon worn by revolutionaries, and represents a symbolic fusion of the monarchy and the people of Paris.

Here is the step-by-step origin:

1. The Colors of Paris: Before the revolution, the traditional colors of the city of Paris were blue and red. These were used on the city's coat of arms and worn by the civic militia.
2. The Color of the King: The color of the Bourbon monarchy was white. This was the color of the royal flag and the uniform of the French Army.
3. The Storming of the Bastille (July 1789): In the days following the Bastille's fall on July 14, 1789, a new National Guard was formed in Paris to maintain order. Its commander was the Marquis de Lafayette.
4. Lafayette and the Cockade: Lafayette is widely credited with creating the tricolor cockade. He took the blue and red of the Paris militia and inserted the royal white in the middle. This gesture was a powerful symbol of reconciliation and unity between the King (white) and the people of Paris (blue and red).
5. The King's Acceptance: On July 17, 1789, King Louis XVI traveled to the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) in Paris and famously accepted and wore the new tricolor cockade, symbolizing his acceptance of the new revolutionary reality.
6. From Cockade to Flag: This hugely popular tricolor design was quickly adapted from a cockade (worn on a hat) into a flag. The current design, with three vertical stripes (blue, white, and red), was officially adopted by the National Convention on February 15, 1794.

The flag thus came to represent the three core ideals of the revolution: Liberty (blue), Equality (white), and Fraternity (red), though this association was added later.