Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What did the tricolor cockade represent during the French Revolution?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
French Revolution
The execution of Louis XVI in 1793.
During the French Revolution, the tricolor cockade served as a powerful symbol of the new revolutionary order and the unification of the monarchy with the people of Paris.12
The cockade featured a combination of three colors, each carrying specific significance:
* White: Represented the Bourbons, the ruling royal family.13
* Blue and Red: Represented the traditional colors of the city of Paris.41
By donning this cockade—most notably when Louis XVI wore one during his visit to Paris on July 17, 1789—the king signaled a symbolic reconciliation with the revolutionary movement. This combination of colors eventually evolved into the national flag of France, embodying the principles of the Revolution.134