A Portuguesa
A Portuguesa 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 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 Brabançonne translates to "the song of Brabant."
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In 1890, the United Kingdom 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 Mendonça authored an epic poem urging people to "fight for the motherland" (Pela Pátria 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 Mendonça's poem. Only the first two sections are sung.
Heróis do mar, nobre povo,
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Desfralda a invicta Bandeira,
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Saudai o Sol que desponta
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Heroes of the sea, noble people, History
Words
Nação valente, imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
O esplendor de Portugal!
Entre as brumas da memória,
àPátria sente-se a voz
Dos teus egrégios avós,
Que há-de guiar-te àvitória!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Pela Pátria lutar
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
àluz viva do teu céu!
Brade a Europa ÃÂ 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!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Pela Pátria lutar
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
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.
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
ÃÂs armas, ÃÂ s armas!
Pela Pátria lutar
Contra os canhões 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!
