A Portuguesa
Encyclopedia
A Portuguesa ɐ puɾtuˈɣezɐ, is the national anthem
of Portugal
. It was composed by Alfredo Keil
and written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
during the resurgent nationalist
movement ignited by the 1890 British ultimatum
to Portugal concerning its African colonies. Used as the marching song of the failed republican rebellion of January 1891, in Porto
, it was adopted as the national anthem of the newborn Portuguese Republic
in 1911, replacing O Hino da Carta
(The Charter Anthem), the anthem of the deposed constitutional monarchy
.
issued an ultimatum
demanding that Portugal
refrain from occupying land lying between the Portuguese colonies of Angola, on the west coast of Africa
, and Mozambique
, on the east coast, thereby forming one contiguous polity (as proposed on the Pink Map
). Despite a popular uproar, the Portuguese government was forced to accept Britain's demands. This contributed to the unpopularity of King Carlos I and the monarchy, and it garnered support for the increasingly popular republican
movement in Portugal.
The night after the ultimatum was accepted, the composer, Alfredo Keil
, at the suggestion of a group of friends that included Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
and Teófilo Braga
, wrote the melody for A Portuguesa as a patriotic protest march. Inspired by the outrage felt by the Portuguese people, the lyricist
, Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
, accepted Keil's request to create words to suit his melody. Mendonça said A Portuguesa was a song "where the fatherland's wounded soul would merge with its ambitions of freedom and revival"; he hoped it would be an anthem, embraced by the people, that could express their yearning for national vindication. Such expressions are epitomized by La Marsellaise, the Portuguese fado
, and Hino da Maria da Fonte (The Maria da Fonte Anthem). The march was quickly disseminated; several thousands of copies of the sheet music were freely distributed, together with fliers and posters. The song's popularity also spread across national borders, and verses were translated into other languages.
On several stages in Lisbon
, A Portuguesa drew special attention. On 29 March 1890, the march was performed at the Great Patriotic Concert, held in the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
(Saint Charles National Theatre), as well as in every other theatre in the capital. Beyond its use in cultural displays, A Portuguesa was also exploited for commercial gain. Several food products, like canned sardines and cookies, were named for this song.
However, the song was perceived as a political weapon, and it was soon converted into a republican hymn. This political co-option of the theme's original meaning forced both authors to disavow this vision and stress its purely non-partisan sentiments.
On 31 January 1891, a republican-inspired rebellion broke out in the northern city of Porto
and A Portuguesa was adopted by the rebels as their marching song. The rebellion was crushed, and the song was banned. However, it was never forgotten, and, on 5 October 1910, a new and stronger rebellion
developed as A Portuguesa played in the background. A year later, the first session of the Constituent Assembly
officially proclaimed it as the national anthem.
In 1956, the emergence of melodic variants of the anthem forced the government to create a committee whose aim was to define an official version. On 16 July 1957, the current version was proposed, and it was approved by the Council of Ministers
.
Mirandese
The anthem's official version consists of the first stanza
and the chorus
from Mendonça's poem only.
The last line of the chorus, "Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!" (Against the cannons, march, march!), is an alteration of the original, "Contra os bretões marchar, marchar" (Against the Britons, march, march!), a call to arms against the British Ultimatum.
) is honoured. It is also played at receptions for foreign heads of state, following that of the visitor, and in ceremonies during official presidential visits to other countries.
, the national anthem of France
, has a substantive referring to Marseille
, the Belgian
anthem, the Brabançonne, to Brabant
, and the Socialist
anthem, the Internationale, literally means "the International".
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It was composed by Alfredo Keil
Alfredo Keil
Alfredo Cristiano Keil was a Portuguese romantic composer and painter.Keil was born in Lisbon, the son of Johann Christian Keil and wife Maria Josefina Stellflug...
and written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
Henrique Lopes de Mendonça was a Portuguese poet, playwright and naval officer. He wrote several plays, and with his friend, the composer Alfredo Keil, he wrote the lyrics of the future Portuguese national anthem, A Portuguesa, which was adopted in 1911...
during the resurgent nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
movement ignited by the 1890 British ultimatum
British Ultimatum
The 1890 British Ultimatum was an ultimatum by the British government delivered on 11 January 1890 to Portugal in breach of the Treaty of Windsor of 1386...
to Portugal concerning its African colonies. Used as the marching song of the failed republican rebellion of January 1891, in Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, it was adopted as the national anthem of the newborn Portuguese Republic
Portuguese First Republic
The Portuguese First Republic spans a complex 16 year period in the history of Portugal, between the end of the period of constitutional monarchy marked by the 5 October 1910 revolution and the 28 May coup d'état of 1926...
in 1911, replacing O Hino da Carta
O Hino da Carta
The Hymno da Carta was officially proclaimed the national anthem of the Kingdom of Portugal in May 1834. It was composed by D. Pedro IV, King Peter IV of Portugal . "Carta" stands for the Constitutional Charter which Peter IV granted to Portugal...
(The Charter Anthem), the anthem of the deposed constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
.
History
On 11 January 1890, the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
issued an ultimatum
British Ultimatum
The 1890 British Ultimatum was an ultimatum by the British government delivered on 11 January 1890 to Portugal in breach of the Treaty of Windsor of 1386...
demanding that Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
refrain from occupying land lying between the Portuguese colonies of Angola, on the west coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and Mozambique
Portuguese East Africa
Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa was the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in East Africa was known across different periods of time...
, on the east coast, thereby forming one contiguous polity (as proposed on the Pink Map
Pink Map
The Pink Map was a document representing Portugal's claim of sovereignty over the land between Angola and Mozambique, which today is currently Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.The Pink Map collided with Sir Cecil Rhodes' "Cape to Cairo Red Line"...
). Despite a popular uproar, the Portuguese government was forced to accept Britain's demands. This contributed to the unpopularity of King Carlos I and the monarchy, and it garnered support for the increasingly popular republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
movement in Portugal.
The night after the ultimatum was accepted, the composer, Alfredo Keil
Alfredo Keil
Alfredo Cristiano Keil was a Portuguese romantic composer and painter.Keil was born in Lisbon, the son of Johann Christian Keil and wife Maria Josefina Stellflug...
, at the suggestion of a group of friends that included Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro
Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro was a Portuguese artist known for his illustration, caricatures, sculpture and ceramics designs, and is considered the first Portuguese comics creator.- Life :...
and Teófilo Braga
Teófilo Braga
Joaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga ]] 24 February 1843 – 28 January 1924) was a Portuguese writer, playwright, politician and the leader of the Republican Provisional Government after the abdication of King Manuel II, as well as the second elected President of the First Portuguese Republic, following...
, wrote the melody for A Portuguesa as a patriotic protest march. Inspired by the outrage felt by the Portuguese people, the lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
Henrique Lopes de Mendonça
Henrique Lopes de Mendonça was a Portuguese poet, playwright and naval officer. He wrote several plays, and with his friend, the composer Alfredo Keil, he wrote the lyrics of the future Portuguese national anthem, A Portuguesa, which was adopted in 1911...
, accepted Keil's request to create words to suit his melody. Mendonça said A Portuguesa was a song "where the fatherland's wounded soul would merge with its ambitions of freedom and revival"; he hoped it would be an anthem, embraced by the people, that could express their yearning for national vindication. Such expressions are epitomized by La Marsellaise, the Portuguese fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
, and Hino da Maria da Fonte (The Maria da Fonte Anthem). The march was quickly disseminated; several thousands of copies of the sheet music were freely distributed, together with fliers and posters. The song's popularity also spread across national borders, and verses were translated into other languages.
On several stages in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, A Portuguesa drew special attention. On 29 March 1890, the march was performed at the Great Patriotic Concert, held in the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
The Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is an opera house in Lisbon, Portugal. It was opened on July 30, 1793 by Queen Maria I as a replacement for the Tejo Opera House, which was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake...
(Saint Charles National Theatre), as well as in every other theatre in the capital. Beyond its use in cultural displays, A Portuguesa was also exploited for commercial gain. Several food products, like canned sardines and cookies, were named for this song.
However, the song was perceived as a political weapon, and it was soon converted into a republican hymn. This political co-option of the theme's original meaning forced both authors to disavow this vision and stress its purely non-partisan sentiments.
On 31 January 1891, a republican-inspired rebellion broke out in the northern city of Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
and A Portuguesa was adopted by the rebels as their marching song. The rebellion was crushed, and the song was banned. However, it was never forgotten, and, on 5 October 1910, a new and stronger rebellion
5 October 1910 revolution
The revolution of 1910 was a republican coup d'état that occurred in Portugal on 5 October 1910, which deposed King Manuel II and established the Portuguese First Republic....
developed as A Portuguesa played in the background. A year later, the first session of the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
officially proclaimed it as the national anthem.
In 1956, the emergence of melodic variants of the anthem forced the government to create a committee whose aim was to define an official version. On 16 July 1957, the current version was proposed, and it was approved by the Council of Ministers
Portuguese Council of Ministers
The Cabinet of Portugal is a collegial body presided over by the Prime Minister. All ministers are members of the council of ministers, and when the prime minister finds it fit, state secretaries can also attend its meetings.- Functions :The Council of Ministers discusses and approves bills to be...
.
Lyrics
| Portuguese lyrics | Approximate translation |
|---|---|
| First stanza | |
Heróis do mar, nobre povo, Nação valente, imortal, Levantai hoje de novo O esplendor de Portugal! Entre as brumas da memória, Ó Pátria, sente-se a voz Dos teus egrégios avós, Que há-de guiar-te à vitória! |
Heroes of the sea, noble people, Brave, immortal nation, Raise today once again The splendour of Portugal! Amid the mists of memory, Oh Fatherland, one feels the voice Of your distinguished forefathers, That shall lead you to victory! |
| Chorus | |
Às armas, às armas! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, Às armas, às armas! Pela Pátria lutar! Contra os canhões, marchar, marchar! |
To arms, to arms! Over land, over sea, To arms, to arms! For the Fatherland, fight! Against the cannons, march, march! |
| Second stanza | |
Desfralda a invicta Bandeira, À luz viva do teu céu! Brade a Europa à terra inteira: Portugal não pereceu Beija o solo teu jucundo O Oceano, a rugir d'amor, E teu braço vencedor Deu mundos novos ao Mundo! |
Hoist the undefeated Flag, In the lively light of your sky! May Europe cry out to the whole Earth: Portugal has not perished Kiss your merry ground The Ocean, roaring with love, And your victorious arm Gave new worlds to the World! |
| Chorus | |
| Third stanza | |
Saudai o Sol que desponta Sobre um ridente porvir; Seja o eco de uma afronta O sinal do ressurgir. Raios dessa aurora forte São como beijos de mãe, Que nos guardam, nos sustêm, Contra as injúrias da sorte. |
Salute the Sun that rises Over a gleeful future; Let the echo of an offense Be the sign for a comeback. Rays of this strong dawn Are like a mother's kisses, That keep us, sustain us, Against the injuries of fate. |
| Chorus | |
MirandeseMirandese languageThe Mirandese language is a Romance language belonging to the Astur-Leonese linguistic group, sparsely spoken in a small area of northeastern Portugal, in the municipalities of Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro and Vimioso...
Translation
| Data: 1890 (original lyrics) | Data: 1890 (rewrite from 1957) |
|---|---|
I Heiróis de l mar, nobre pobo Nacion baliente, eimortal Lhebantai hoije de nuobo L splandor de Pertual Antre las nubrinas de ls mimória Oh pátria sente-se la boç De ls tous çtintos abós Que ha de ancaminar-te a la bitória! A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls Bretones caminar, caminar! II Çfralda la ambita bandeira, La lhuç biba de l tou cielo! Bozie l’Ouropa a la tierra anteira: Pertual nun morriu! Beisa l tou chano persenteiro L Ouceano, a rugir d’amor; I l tou braço bencedor Dou mundos nuobos al mundo A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls Bretones caminar, caminar! III Saludai l sol que quebra Subre un alegre feturo; Seia l sonido dũa afrunta La seinha de l resurgir. Relhistros dessa ourora fuorte Son cumo beisos de mai, Que mos guárdan, mos susténen, Contra las anjúrias de la suorte. A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls Bretones caminar, caminar! |
I Heiróis de l mar, nobre pobo Nacion baliente, eimortal Lhebantai hoije de nuobo L splandor de Pertual Antre las nubrinas de ls mimória Oh pátria sente-se la boç De ls tous çtintos abós Que ha de ancaminar-te a la bitória! A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls canhones caminar, caminar! II Çfralda la ambita bandeira, La lhuç biba de l tou cielo! Bozie l’Ouropa á tierra anteira: Pertual nun morriu! Beisa l tou chano persenteiro L Ouceano, a rugir d’amor; I l tou braço bencedor Dou mundos nuobos al mundo A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls canhones caminar, caminar! III Saludai l sol que quebra Subre un alegre feturo; Seia l sonido dũa afrunta La seinha de l resurgir. Relhistros dessa ourora fuorte Son cumo beisos de mai, Que mos guárdan, mos susténen, Contra las anjúrias de la suorte. A las armas, a las armas ! Subre la tierra, subre l mar, A las armas, a las armas! Pula pátria lhuitar! Contra ls canhones caminar, caminar! |
The anthem's official version consists of the first stanza
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
and the chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
from Mendonça's poem only.
The last line of the chorus, "Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!" (Against the cannons, march, march!), is an alteration of the original, "Contra os bretões marchar, marchar" (Against the Britons, march, march!), a call to arms against the British Ultimatum.
Protocol
Within Portugal, the anthem is played at both civilian and military ceremonies where the country, flag, or head of state (the President of the RepublicPresident of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
) is honoured. It is also played at receptions for foreign heads of state, following that of the visitor, and in ceremonies during official presidential visits to other countries.
The song's title
The title A Portuguesa means "the Portuguese" while the word "song" is merely implied. In a very similar way, La MarseillaiseLa Marseillaise
"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. The song, originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" was written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792. The French National Convention adopted it as the Republic's anthem in 1795...
, the national anthem of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, has a substantive referring to Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
anthem, the Brabançonne, to Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
, and the Socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
anthem, the Internationale, literally means "the International".
External links
- A Portuguesa — A fan site dedicated to the anthem.