# Hymne monégasque

"Hymne Monégasque" (Monégasque: "Inu Munegascu"; English: "Monégasque Anthem"), also known as "A Marcia de Muneghu" ("The March of Monaco"), is the national anthem of Monaco. It was originally adopted in 1848 with French lyrics by Théophile Bellando de Castro and music by Bellando and Castil-Blaze. The current official lyrics, which are in Monégasque, were written in 1931 by Louis Notari, while the current musical arrangement was composed in 1914 by Léon Jehin.

## History

Under the reign of Prince Florestan I who become the Monegasque sovereign in 1841, the Principality experienced an unstable internal situation. As early as 1821, repeated troubles broke out in Menton encouraged by agents of the Kingdom of Sardinia, abusively interpreting the treaty of Stupinigi signed on November 8, 1817, as a treaty submitting the Prince of Monaco and the Principality to a foreign authority. In order to respond to the broadcast in Monaco of seditious songs imported from the County of Nice, Monégasque lawyer Théophile Bellando de Castro wrote French lyrics and composed the music of the first version of the "Hymne Monégasque" in 1841 as a tribute of loyalty to the Prince and his family. Later, French musicologist Castil-Blaze modified the melody and made several other minor changes. In 1848, the National Guard, created by Prince Florestan, adopted Bellando's song, and it became the "March of the National Loyalists". In 1896, a new arrangement for piano composed by Monégasque composer Charles Albrecht was published by Tihebaux in Paris and titled "Air National de Monaco". In 1897, Decourcelle, a publisher in Nice, printed a new version of Albrecht's composition numbered 429 and titled "Hymne National de Monaco".
Years later, Monégasque musician François Bellini orchestrated the song by Albrecht; this new arrangement for a trio was judged to be too long for people in 1900 and ceased being played. The modern version was created by French composer Léon Jehin in 1914 and was played for the first time during the 25th anniversary of the beginning Prince Albert's reign. Finally, in 1931, Monégasque poet Louis Notari wrote the lyrics in the Monégasque language.
Fernand Bertrand of the Comité National des Traditions Monégasques (National Committee of Monégasque Traditions) later simplified the Monégasque lyrics while retaining the meaning, because people were finding it difficult to sing the first verse, which had a fast rhythm. Bertrand also noted that the second verse was no longer being played or sung. This is the version currently taught in schools to children and that almost all the population sings today.

## Lyrics

Only the Monegasque lyrics are official, reportedly dating back to a request from the Prince. The national anthem is rarely sung aloud in Monaco, except at official occasions.

### Current lyrics

Sometimes, a version of these lyrics is sung that does not include the verse in the middle, which instead is left as an instrumental interlude.
| Monégasque lyrics | English translation |
| Oilà cü ne toca ! Oilà cü ne garda ! Fò che cadün sace ben aiço d'aiçìRiturnelu: Despoei tugiù, sciü d'u nostru paise Se ride au ventu, u meme pavayùn Despoei tugiù a cuřù russa e gianca E stà ř'emblèma d'a nostra libertà Grandi e piciui, ř'an sempre respetà N'amu ch'üna tradiçiun, n'amu ch'üna religiun, Amu avüu per u nostru unù I meme Principi tugiù E ren nun ne scangerà Tantu ch'u suriyu lüjerà; Diu sempre n'agiüterà E ren nun ne scangerà Riturnelu | Greetings, you who are our neighbours! Greetings, you who are watching us! It is important that everyone remembers the following:Chorus: Forever, in our land, One flag has flown in the wind Forever, the colours red and white Have symbolised our liberty Adults and children have always respected them. We have perpetuated the same traditions; We celebrate the same religion; We have the honour To have always had the same Princes. And nothing will change As long as the sun shines; God will always help us And nothing will change. Chorus |

### Full lyrics (1928)

| Monégasque lyrics | French translation | English translation |
| Despœi tugiù sciü d'u nostru paise Se ride au ventu u meme pavayun Despœi tugiù a curù russa e gianca E stà r'emblema d'a nostra libertà ! Grandi e piciui r'an tugiù respetà ! Oilà cü ne toca ! Oilà cü ne garda ! Fò che cadün sace ben aiço d'aiçì Riturnelu : Amu avüu sempre r'a meme tradiçiun; Amu avüu sempre r'a meme religiun; Amu avüu per u nostru unù I meme Principi tugiù E düsciün nun purà ne fa sciangià Tantu ch'au cielu u suriyu lüjerà; Diu n'agiüterà E mai düsciün nun purà ne fa scangià Düsciün Nun sëmu pa gaïre, Ma defendemu tüti a nostra tradiçiun; Nun sëmu pa forti, Ma se Diu vœ n'agiüterà ! Oilà cü ne toca ! Oilà cü ne garda ! Fo che cadün sace ben ailo d'ailì Riturnelu | Depuis toujours, le même pavillon Flotte joyeusement au vent de notre pays Depuis toujours les couleurs rouge et blanc Constituent le symbole de notre liberté Grands et petits l'ont toujours respecté! Ohé, vous qui nous voisinez! Ohé, vous qui nous regardez! Il importe que chacun retienne bien ceci: Refrain : Nous avons perpétué les mêmes traditions; Nous célébrons la même religion; Nous avons l'honneur D'avoir toujours eu les mêmes Princes Et personne ne pourra nous faire changer tant que le soleil brillera dans le ciel Dieu nous aidera Et jamais personne ne pourra nous faire changer Personne. Nous ne sommes pas bien nombreux, Mais nous veillons tous à la défense de nos traditions; Nous ne sommes pas très puissants, Mais, s'il le veut, Dieu nous aidera ! Ohé, vous qui nous voisinez ! Ohé, vous qui nous regardez ! Il importe que chacun prenne bien conscience de cela ! Refrain | Historically, the same flag Floats happily in the wind of our country Always the colours red and white Have been the symbol of our freedom Great and small have always respected it! Greetings, you who are our neighbours! Greetings, you who are watching us! It is important that everyone remembers the following: Chorus: We have perpetuated the same traditions; We celebrate the same religion; We have the honour To have always had the same Princes And no one can make us change As long as the sun shines in the sky God help us And no one can ever make us change No one. There are not very many of us, But we all strive to defend our traditions; We are not very powerful, But if he wants to, God will help us! Greetings, you who are our neighbours! Greetings, you who are watching us! It is important that everyone is well aware of that! Chorus |

### Original lyrics (1841)

| French lyrics | English translation |
| Principauté Monaco ma patrie, Oh! Combien Dieu est prodigue pour toi. Ciel toujours pur, rives toujours fleuries, Ton Souverain est plus aimé qu'un Roi. Fiers Compagnons de la Garde Civique, Respectons tous la voix du Commandant. Suivons toujours notre bannière antique. Le tambour bat, marchons tous en avant. Oui, Monaco connut toujours des braves, Nous sommes tous leurs dignes descendants. En aucun temps nous ne fûmes esclaves. Et loin de nous, régnèrent les tyrans. Que le nom d'un Prince plein de clémence, Soit répété par mille et mille chants. Nous mourrons tous pour sa propre défense, Mais après nous, combattront nos enfants. | Principality of Monaco my country Oh! How God is lavish with you. The sky always pure, the shores always blooming [with flowers], Your Monarch is more revered than a King. Proud Companions of the Civic Guard, Let us all respect the voice of the Commander. Always follow our old banner. The drum beats, let us all walk ahead. Yes, Monaco always had brave men, We are all their worthy descendants. Never were we slaves. And far from us the tyrants ruled. That the name of a merciful Prince Be repeated by a thousand songs. We shall all die in his own defence, But after us, our children will fight. |