Magenta is a color that has been variously defined as purplish-red, reddish purple or mauvishcrimson. Magentas name comes from aniline dye made and patented in 1859 by the French chemist François-Emmanuel Verguin who originally called it fuchsine - but later renamed to celebrate their victory at Battle of Magenza between France and Austria on June 4th 1859 near Italian town named after him: magentaoi.. A virtually identical color roseini was created 1860s by two British chemists Chambers Nicolson along with George Maule