Origine del tricolore. Da Bologna a Torino capitale d'Italia by Ito De RolandisMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Actually quite a fascinating look at the origin of the Italian flag and its colors.
This was a "revolution" planned by Luigi Zamboni and Giovanni De Rolandis. They talked about how everyone was sick of the dictatorial church government (in Bologna) and how everyone would follow them and help them take down the government. They then went to spread the word, and 6 people ended up showing up (two of whom were convicts, obviously hoping that with a change in government they'd be free).
In other words, it was a completely forgettable attempt at freedom in a random city of Italy. And yet, once they were captured they were tortured, put through a fake trial, and all their families' belongings were confiscated by the church and they were put to death (actually one of them died in prison, which they tried to make look like a suicide). It was these events, and the people's outrage at them, coupled with the subsequent arrival of Napoleonic troops kicking out the ecclesiastical government, that made the efforts stick.
Their emblem was the "tricolore", which then became the flag of the Repubblica Cispadana, and then Italy.
I confess, seeing the last name of the author made me a bit suspicious, and I am assuming he is somewhat biased, but regardless, this was very interesting stuff. If it is true, Italian students should be studying it in school.
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