The Tricolour: How France's Flag Was Born in Revolution

The French tricolour is one of the world's most recognisable flags, but its origins are surprisingly accidental and deeply tied to the early days of the Revolution. This episode traces the flag's birth in July 1789, when Lafayette combined the blue and red of Paris with the white of the Bourbon monarchy to create a cockade that symbolised national unity. We explore how the tricolour evolved from a revolutionary badge to the official flag under the Third Republic, surviving restorations and regime changes. Along the way, we meet key figures like Marquis de Lafayette, King Louis XVI, and the revolutionaries who wore the cockade during the storming of the Bastille. The episode also touches on the tricolour's role in French identity today, including controversies over its use in sports and politics. Learn why the blue and red represent Paris and the white stands for the monarchy, and how a simple ribbon became a lasting emblem of liberty, equality, and fraternity. #Tricolour #FrenchFlag #MarquisDeLafayette #Cockade #FrenchRevolution #Paris #Bastille #LouisXVI #ThirdRepublic #NationalSymbol #LibertyEqualityFraternity #Vexillology #France #RevolutionarySymbols #BlueWhiteRed #FexingoHistory #History #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo