<P> In northern Italy, during the Guelph and Ghibelline conflict of the 12th--14th century, the armies of the Ghibelline (pro-imperial) communes adopted the war banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (white cross on red) as their own, while the Guelf (anti-imperial) communes reversed the colours (red cross on white). These two schemes are prevalent in the modern civic heraldry of northern Italian towns and remains a revealing indicator of their past factional leanings . Traditionally Ghibelline towns like Pavia, Novara, Como, and Asti continue to sport the Ghibelline cross . The Guelf cross can be found on the civic arms of traditionally Guelf towns like Genoa, Milan, Vercelli, Alessandria, Reggio, and Bologna . </P> <P> With the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, many of its dukes and princes joined the Confederation of the Rhine, a confederation of Napoleonic client states . These states preferred to use their own flags . The confederation had no flag of its own; instead it used the blue - white - red flag of France and the Imperial Standard of its protector, Napoleon . </P> <P> During the Napoleonic Wars, the German struggle against the occupying French forces was significantly symbolised by the colours of black, red, and gold, which became popular after their use in the uniforms of the Lützow Free Corps, a volunteer unit of the Prussian Army . This unit had uniforms in black with red facings and gold buttons . The colour choice had pragmatic origins, even though black - red - gold were the former colours used by the Holy Roman Empire . Members of the corps were required to supply their own clothing: in order to present a uniform appearance it was easiest to dye all clothes black . Gold - coloured buttons were widely available, and pennons used by the lancers in the unit were red and black . At the time, the colours represented: </P> <P> Out of the blackness (black) of servitude through bloody (red) battles to the golden (gold) light of freedom . </P>

What do the colors in german flag mean