Information about A Portuguesa

A Portuguesa (pron. IPA /ɐ puɾ.tu.'ɣe.zɐ/) is the national anthem of Portugal. It was written by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça (lyrics) and Alfredo Keil (music) after the nationalist resurgence provoked by the British Ultimatum (for Portuguese troops to vacate the territory between Angola and Mozambique), was adopted as a Republican anthem and, finally, by the new Portuguese Republic in 1910 as the national anthem, replacing "O Hymno da Carta", the last anthem of the Constitutional Monarchy in Portugal.

The title A Portuguesa means "the Portuguese (song)" — the Portuguese word for "song", canção, being feminine — just as La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France, is "the song of Marseille", the Belgian anthem, The Brabançonne is "the song of Brabant", and L'Internationale, the Socialist anthem, is "the international (song)".

History

In 1890, the United Kingdom issued an ultimatum demanding Portugal give up its intentions of occupying the land between the African colonies of Angola, on the western coast, and Mozambique, on 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 Mendonça composed a poem urging his compatriots to "fight for the fatherland" (Pela Pátria lutar) and praising the country's past as a naval power, particularly in the 15th and 16th centuries. The words were set to 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 31, 1891, a republican revolution broke out in the northern city of Porto and "A Portuguesa" was adopted by the rebels as their anthem. The revolution was crushed and the song banned. In 1910, on October 5, a new revolution succeeded in overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a republic in Portugal. In the following year, 1911, a law officialized the status of "A Portuguesa" as Portugal's national anthem.

Lyrics

The song consists of the first stanza from Mendonça's poem followed by a chorus. The second and third verses below were part of the poem, but are not included in the anthem (and are indeed unknown to even exist by a large majority of Portuguese). The fifth 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!).

Portuguese lyrics	Approximate translation
First stanza (Portuguese National Anthem)
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 and immortal nation, Give rise today, once more To the splendour of Portugal! Amidst the mists of memory, Oh Fatherland, the voice is felt Of your noble 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 the land, over the sea, To arms, to arms! To fight for the Fatherland! Against the cannons, we march, we 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 unconquerable Flag, In the living light of your sky! Europe cries out to the world entire: Portugal has not perished Kiss the soil jolly of yours The Ocean, roaring of love, And your winning 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 smiling future; Let the echo of an offense Be the sign for resurrection. Rays of that strong dawn Are as mother kisses, That keep us, sustain us, Against the injuries of fate.
Chorus

External links

• Lyrics, sheet music, and MP3 of "A Portuguesa" on the Government of Portugal web portal.
• A Portuguesa - A fan site dedicated to the Anthem, where you can hear a vocal version.

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