Known as the 'tricolore', the modern Italian flag consists of three equally-sized vertical stripes in the colors green, white, and red. First created during the Napoleonic wars, it was officially adopted on January 7, 1797. During the following two centuries, the design went through various forms and on January 1, 1948, after Italy changed from a monarchy to a republic, the current design was adopted and described in the newly-signed constitution: "The flag of the Republic is the Italian Tri-color: green, white and red in vertical bands of equal size."