"A Portuguesa" is the national anthem of Portugal. It was written by Henrique Lopes de Mendon�a (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 the national anthem, replacing "O Hino da Carta", the last anthem of the Constitutional Monarchy in Portugal.

The title "A Portuguesa" translates to "The Portuguese" (female) 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 Braban�onne" translates to "the song of Brabant."

Contents

1 History 2 Lyrics 2.1 English translation 3 Audio recording 4 Note

History

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 Mendon�a authored a poem urging people to "fight for the motherland" (Pela P�tria 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 31, 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 5, 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.

Lyrics

The song consists of the first stanza from Mendon�a's poem followed by a chorus. The second and third verses below were part of the poem, but not the song. the verse "Contra os canh�es marchar, marchar" (Against the cannons we march, we march!) was an alteration of the Contra os bret�es marchar, marchar" (Against the British we march, we march!).

First stanza: "Her�is do mar, nobre povo,
Na��o valente e imortal,
Levantai hoje de novo
O esplendor de Portugal!
Entre as brumas da mem�ria,
� P�tria sente-se a voz
Dos teus egr�gios av�s,
Que h�-de guiar-te � vit�ria!"

Chorus: "�s armas, �s armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
�s armas, �s armas!
Pela P�tria lutar
Contra os canh�es marchar, marchar!"

Second stanza: "Desfralda a invicta Bandeira,
� luz viva do teu c�u!
Brade a Europa � terra inteira:
Portugal n�o pereceu
Beija o solo teu jucundo
O Oceano, a rugir d'amor,
E teu bra�o vencedor
Deu mundos novos ao Mundo!"

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
S�o como beijos de m�e,
Que nos guardam, nos sust�m,
Contra as inj�rias da sorte."

English translation

First verse: "Heroes of the sea, noble people,
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
Over land and over sea!
To arms, to arms
To fight for our Homeland!
Against the cannons we march, we march!"

Second stanza: "Hoist the unconquerable Flag,
In the living light of your sky!
Europe cries out to the all of the land:
Portugal did not perish
Kiss the soil jolly of yours
The Ocean, roars of love,
And your winning arm
Gave new worlds to the World!"

Audio recording

• A recording of "A Portuguesa" released by the Portuguese government

Note

In the chorus, the last verse Contra os canh�es marchar, marchar. (Against the cannon march, march.) is different from the original anti-British protest song: Contra os bret�es marchar, marchar. (Against the Britons march, march.)

de:A Portuguesa es:A Portuguesa fr:A Portuguesa ia:A Portuguesa it:A Portuguesa nl:A Portugu�sa ja:ポルトガルの国歌 pl:Hymn Portugalii pt:Hino nacional de Portugal ro:A Portuguesa sl:A Portuguesa sv:A Portuguesa