Bože pravde
Encyclopedia
"Bože pravde" is the official anthem
of Serbia
, as defined by the Article 7 of the Constitution of Serbia
. "Bože pravde" was the anthem of the Principality of Serbia and Kingdom of Serbia
until 1918 when Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed. It was recommended by the Parliament of Serbia on August 17, 2004 and constitutionally adopted on November 8, 2006. The recommended text was made Law on May 11, 2009. The original song was written in 1872 with music by Davorin Jenko
and lyrics by Jovan Đorđević. It was then a piece for the theater play "Marko kazuje na kome je carstvo" (Marko names the Emperor), and its immense popularity with audiences prompted its adoption as the Serbian national anthem.
While being the anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia
, it occasionally was referred to as 'Serbian National Prayer' and the original lyrics contained a petition for the Serbian king. Various rulers of Serbia changed the words of the anthem to suit them. During the rule of Prince Milan I of Serbia, the words were "God, save Prince Milan" (knez Milana Bože spasi), which changed to King Milan when Serbia became a kingdom. Later the anthem was tailored to Peter I
and Alexander I
as well. During the time of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia
), "Bože pravde" was part of its national anthem
.
It was also used as an anthem of Republika Srpska
, an entity
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, in the period of 1991 to 2006, when it was ruled down by the country's constitutional court
. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has ruled against the use of "Bože pravde" as the anthem of Republika Srpska
in 2006, declaring it unconstitutional, and the decision was upheld by the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska. The new anthem of Republika Srpska
was adopted in 2008.
Republika Srpska retained the old lyrics, while Serbia uses slightly modified lyrics, asserting that it is no longer a monarchy
— four verses are different. In three, "Serbian king" (srpskog kralja) is changed to "Serbian lands" (srpske zemlje) and in one, "God save the Serbian king" (srpskog kralja Bože spasi) is changed in "God save, God defend" (Bože spasi, Bože brani).
In 1990s, "Vostani Serbije
" and "Marš na Drinu
" were proposed as the anthem of Serbia along with Bоže pravde. The latter, promulgated by then-ruling Socialist Party of Serbia
, even received a plurality of popular vote on 1992 referendum
, but it never got officially adopted.
s, but only the first two are usually sung.
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 Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, as defined by the Article 7 of the Constitution of Serbia
Constitution of Serbia
The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia is Serbia's fundamental law. The current constitution was approved in a constitutional referendum, held from on 28–29 October 2006...
. "Bože pravde" was the anthem of the Principality of Serbia and Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
until 1918 when Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed. It was recommended by the Parliament of Serbia on August 17, 2004 and constitutionally adopted on November 8, 2006. The recommended text was made Law on May 11, 2009. The original song was written in 1872 with music by Davorin Jenko
Davorin Jenko
thumb|right|Davorin JenkoDavorin Jenko was a Slovene composer. He is sometimes considered as the father of Slovenian national Romantic music...
and lyrics by Jovan Đorđević. It was then a piece for the theater play "Marko kazuje na kome je carstvo" (Marko names the Emperor), and its immense popularity with audiences prompted its adoption as the Serbian national anthem.
While being the anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
, it occasionally was referred to as 'Serbian National Prayer' and the original lyrics contained a petition for the Serbian king. Various rulers of Serbia changed the words of the anthem to suit them. During the rule of Prince Milan I of Serbia, the words were "God, save Prince Milan" (knez Milana Bože spasi), which changed to King Milan when Serbia became a kingdom. Later the anthem was tailored to Peter I
Peter I of Yugoslavia
Peter I , was the King of Serbia from 1903 to 1918, and subsequently the ruler of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes . He was a member of the Royal House of Karađorđević...
and Alexander I
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
as well. During the time of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
), "Bože pravde" was part of its national anthem
National Anthem of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The National anthem of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created in December 1918 from the national anthems of the Kingdom's main three constituent historical provinces: Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. In those times the official authorities considered the three nations, Croats, Serbs and Slovenes as...
.
It was also used as an anthem of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, an entity
Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina were created by the Dayton Agreement, which recognized a second tier of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina comprising two entities—a joint Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska -- each presiding over roughly one half of...
of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, in the period of 1991 to 2006, when it was ruled down by the country's constitutional court
Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a special court sui generis, whose main role is to be the interpreter and guardian of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as stated in Article VI, paragraph 3 of the Constitution , and it is considered to be the highest judicial...
. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has ruled against the use of "Bože pravde" as the anthem of Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in 2006, declaring it unconstitutional, and the decision was upheld by the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska. The new anthem of Republika Srpska
Moja Republika
Moja Republika is the entity anthem of Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On July 16, 2008 it replaced the previous anthem Bože pravde, which was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006...
was adopted in 2008.
Republika Srpska retained the old lyrics, while Serbia uses slightly modified lyrics, asserting that it is no longer a monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
— four verses are different. In three, "Serbian king" (srpskog kralja) is changed to "Serbian lands" (srpske zemlje) and in one, "God save the Serbian king" (srpskog kralja Bože spasi) is changed in "God save, God defend" (Bože spasi, Bože brani).
In 1990s, "Vostani Serbije
Vostani Serbije
Vostani Serbije , also known as Pesma na Insurekciju Serbijanov was the national anthem of revolutionary Serbia, written by Dositej Obradović during the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire in 1804...
" and "Marš na Drinu
Marš na Drinu
Marš na Drinu is a Serbian patriotic song from World War I and the title of a film .During World War I, the river Drina was the site of a bloody battle between the Serbian and Austro-Hungarian army, the Battle of Cer, from August 16 to August 19, 1914...
" were proposed as the anthem of Serbia along with Bоže pravde. The latter, promulgated by then-ruling Socialist Party of Serbia
Socialist Party of Serbia
The Socialist Party of Serbia is officially a democratic socialist political party in Serbia. It is also widely recognized as a de facto Serbian nationalist party, though the party itself does not officially acknowledge this...
, even received a plurality of popular vote on 1992 referendum
Serbian constitutional referendum, 1992
A referendum on Serbia's state symbols was held on May 31, 1992 in Serbia to decide the republic's flag, coat of arms and the anthem. The referendum failed as the electoral response was insufficient....
, but it never got officially adopted.
Lyrics
The anthem officially has eight stanzaStanza
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"...
s, but only the first two are usually sung.
| Serbian Cyrillic | Serbian Latin | English translation |
|---|---|---|
Боже правде, ти што спасе од пропасти досад нас, чуј и одсад наше гласе и од сад нам буди спас. Моћном руком води, брани будућности српске брод, Боже спаси, Боже храни,(*) српске земље, српски род!(*) Сложи српску браћу драгу на свак дичан славан рад, слога биће пораз врагу а најјачи српству град. Нек на српској блиста грани братске слоге златан плод, Боже спаси, Боже храни српске земље, српски род! Нек на српско ведро чело твог не падне гнева гром Благослови Србу село поље, њиву, град и дом! Кад наступе борбе дани к’ победи му води ход Боже спаси, Боже храни српске земље, српски род! Из мрачнога сину гроба српске славе нови сјај настало је ново доба Нову срећу, Боже дај! Отаџбину српску брани пет вековне борбе плод Боже спаси, Боже брани моли ти се српски род! |
Bože pravde, ti što spase od propasti dosad nas, čuj i odsad naše glase i od sad nam budi spas. Moćnom rukom vodi, brani budućnosti srpske brod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani,(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Složi srpsku braću dragu na svak dičan slavan rad, sloga biće poraz vragu a najjači srpstvu grad. Nek na srpskoj blista grani bratske sloge zlatan plod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod! Nek na srpsko vedro čelo tvog ne padne gneva grom Blagoslovi Srbu selo polje, njivu, grad i dom! Kad nastupe borbe dani k’ pobedi mu vodi hod Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod! Iz mračnoga sinu groba srpske slave novi sjaj nastalo je novo doba Novu sreću, Bože daj! Otadžbinu srpsku brani pet vekovne borbe plod Bože spasi, Bože brani moli ti se srpski rod! |
God of Justice; Thou who saved us when in deepest bondage cast, Hear Thy Serbian children's voices, Be our help as in the past. With Thy mighty hand sustain us, Still our rugged pathway trace; God, our hope; protect and cherish(*) Serbian lands and Serbian race!(*) Bind in closest links our kindred Teach the love that will not fail, May the loathed fiend of discord Never in our ranks prevail. Let the golden fruits of union Our young tree of freedom grace; God, our Master! guide and prosper Serbian lands and Serbian race! Lord! Avert from us Thy vengeance, Thunder of Thy dreaded ire; Bless each Serbian town and hamlet, Mountain, meadow, heart and spire. When our host goes forth to battle Death or victory to embrace- God of armies! be our leader Strengthen then the Serbian race! On our sepulchre of ages Breaks the resurrection morn, From the slough of direst slavery Serbia anew is born. Through five hundred years of durance We have knelt before Thy face, All our kin, O God! deliver, Thus entreats the Serbian race! |