congress was held in Modena with representatives of the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and the former papal legations of Ferrara, Bologna, and Romagna, uniting the four cities in what became known as the Cispadane Confederation. The green, white, and red tricolor flag with vertical stripes was also adopted, which would later be officially adopted as the Italian flag shortly thereafter in Reggio. The first public parade of the tricolor flag took place in Modena on February 12, 1797, with the Modenese priest Don Antonio Rovatti, who designed the flag, leading the procession.
