The first entity tae uise the Italian tricolour wis the Repubblica Cispadana (Cispadane Republic) in 1797, efter Napoleon's victorious airmy crossed Italy. Durin this time mony sma republics o Jacobin inspiration supplantit the auncient absolute states an amaist aw, wi variants o colour, uised banners characterised bi three baunds o equal size, clearly inspired bi the French model o 1790. The colours chosen bi the Republic wur reid an white, the colours o the banner o Milan, an green, which wis the colour o the uniform o the Milanese civic guard.