See also ancient Roman Republic and Roman Republic (19th century).

On 7 March 1798, under the rule of the French Directoire, French forces invaded the Papal States and established a new Roman Republic, partly in revenge for the murder of French general Duphot the previous year.

Pope Pius VI was exiled to France and died there in 1799. In 1799 the Tiberina Republic, with capital Perugia, was united to the Roman Republic.

The Roman Republic was short-lived, as the Papal States were restored in June of 1800.

The Roman Republic flag was a vertical tricolour black-white-red, took from the French tricolour, as granted by Napoleon.