A Portuguesa
A Portuguesa is the national anthem of Portugal. It was written by Henrique Lopes de MendonÃÂça (lyrics) and Alfredo Keil (music) after the nationalist resurgence provoked by the British Ultimatum (for Portuguese troops to get out of the territory between Angola and Mozambique), was adopted as a Republican anthem and, finally, by the new Portuguese Republic in 1910 as National Anthem, replacing O Hino da Carta, the last anthem of the Constitutional Monarchy in Portugal.A Portuguesa translates to "The Portuguese" in the sense of "song of Portugal" just as La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France, translates to "the song of Marseille" and the Belgian anthem, La BrabanÃÂçonne translates to "the song of Brabant."
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2 Words 3 MP3 File |
In 1890, Great Britain issued an ultimatum demanding Portugal to give up its intentions of occupying the land between the african colonies of Angola, in the western coast, and Mozambique, in the eastern coast, thus joining the two territories. Despite popular uproar, the government was forced to accept the British terms, a measure that contributed to the growing unpopularity of king Carlos and the monarchy and gained supporters for the already boosting republican movement. Inspired by the common feeling of outrage among the people, writer Henrique Lopes de MendonÃÂça authored an epic poem urging people to "fight for the motherland" (Pela PÃÂátria lutar) and praising the country's past as a naval power, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries. The words were joined with a melody by composer Alfredo Keil and the song soon became popular among people unhappy with what they considered a submissive and humiliating attitude by the Portuguese authorities.
On January 31st 1891, a republican revolution broke out in the northern city of Oporto and "A Portuguesa" was adopted by the rebels as their anthem. The revolution was crushed and the song banned. In 1910, on October 5th, a new revolution succeeded in overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a republic in Portugal. In the following year, 1911, a law proclaimed "A Portuguesa" as Portugal's national anthem.
These are the complete words of Henrique Lopes de MendonÃÂça's poem. Only the first two sections are sung.
HerÃÂóis do mar, nobre povo,
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Desfralda a invicta Bandeira,
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Saudai o Sol que desponta
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Heroes of the sea, noble people, History
Words
NaÃÂçÃÂão valente, imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
O esplendor de Portugal!
Entre as brumas da memÃÂória,
ÃÂàPÃÂátria sente-se a voz
Dos teus egrÃÂégios avÃÂós,
Que hÃÂá-de guiar-te ÃÂàvitÃÂória!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Pela PÃÂátria lutar
Contra os canhÃÂões marchar, marchar!
ÃÂàluz viva do teu cÃÂéu!
Brade a Europa ÃÂÃÂ terra inteira:
Portugal nÃÂão pereceu
Beija o solo teu jucundo
O Oceano, a rugir d'amor,
E teu braÃÂço vencedor
Deu mundos novos ao Mundo!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Pela PÃÂátria lutar
Contra os canhÃÂões marchar, marchar!
Sobre um ridente porvir;
Seja o eco de uma afronta
O sinal do ressurgir.
Raios dessa aurora forte
SÃÂão como beijos de mÃÂãe,
Que nos guardam, nos sustÃÂêm,
Contra as injÃÂúrias da sorte.
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂÃÂs armas, ÃÂÃÂ s armas!
Pela PÃÂátria lutar
Contra os canhÃÂões marchar, marchar!English translation
Valiant and immortal nation,
Arise today oncemore
The splendour of Portugal.
From out of the mists of memory,
O Homeland, feel the voices
Of your great forefathers
That shall lead you on to victory!
Chorus
To arms, to arms
On land and sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
Against the guns we march, we march!
