La Marseillaise

"**The Marseillaise**" () is the national anthem of France. The song was made by Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg on 26 April 1792, after France declared war against Austria. It was first called "**Chant de guerre pour l'armée du Rhin**" (meaning "Marching Song of the Rhine Army").

It was first adopted in 1795 as the national anthem of the French First Republic by the French National Convention.

## History

As the French Revolution roared on, monarchies from countries next to France grew worried that the ruckus would come into their territories. To stop the French Revolution from spreading, the War of the First Coalition began, in which Coalition armies invaded France. On 25 April 1792, Strasbourg mayor Baron Philippe-Frédéric de Dietrich asked his freemason guest Rouget de Lisle to compose a song "that will rally our soldiers from all over to defend their homeland that is under threat." That evening, Rouget de Lisle wrote "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin," which he dedicated to Baravian Marshal Nicolas Luckner. De Dietrich was executed, however, the next year during the Reign of Terror.

The tune of the song became an "anthem" for the French Revolution. The name of the song was then changed to the title "La Marseillaise", after it was first sung on the streets by volunteers from the city of Marseille at the end of May. They were entering the capital city of Paris on 30 July 1792, and troops adopted it as the marching song of the National Guard of Marseille.

"La Marseillaise" is France's first ever anthem and was accepted as the French national anthem by the National Convention on 14 July 1795. It later lost its status under Napoleon I, and the song was banned by Louis XVIII and Charles X. It regained its status as national anthem right after the July Revolution of 1830. During Napoleon I's reign, "Veillons au salut de l'Empire" (meaning "Let's Ensure the Salvation of the Empire") was the unofficial anthem of his reign, and under Napoleon III's control, it was "Partant pour la Syrie" (meaning "Leaving for Syria"). Eventually, the French government brought back "La Marseillaise" to try to spread patriotism to the French people during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. A year later, after that war ended, "La Marseillaise" was adopted by the Paris Commune, although it had new lyrics under the title "La marseillaise de la Commune" (meaning "The Marseillaise of the Commune"). Eight years later, in 1879, it was one again the national anthem of France, and has remained so ever since.

## Lyrics

The lyrics mention about the time when France was being invaded by Prussia and Austria, while it was written. The city of Strasbourg in eastern France was attacked a few days later. The invading forces were kicked out of France following their defeat in the Battle of Valmy. As the majority of Alsatians did not speak French, a German version titled „Auf, Brüder, auf dem Tag entgegen“ ("Up Towards the Day, Brothers!") was published in October 1792 in Colmar.

Only the first stanza (and sometimes the fourth and the sixth) and the chorus are sung today in France. There are some slight historical variations in the words of the song; the following is the version listed at the official website of the French presidency.

|Original text in French|Modified French spelling for ease|Pronunciation of these words using the IPA|Translation of the text into English|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|<poem>Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie 𝄆 L'étendard sanglant est levé, 𝄇 Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes ! Aux armes, citoyens, Formez vos bataillons, Marchez, marchez ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons ! Aux armes, citoyens, Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons ! Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, 𝄆 Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? 𝄇 Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Quels transports il doit exciter ! C'est nous qu'on ose méditer De rendre à l'antique esclavage ! Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! Ces phalanges mercenaires 𝄆 Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! 𝄇 Grand Dieu ! Par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées ! Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L'opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides 𝄆 Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! 𝄇 Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La terre en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, 𝄆 À regret s'armant contre nous. 𝄇 Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Liberté, Liberté chérie, 𝄆 Combats avec tes défenseurs ! 𝄇 Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents, Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! </poem>|<poem>Alon-s-anfan de la Patrie, Le jur de gluare è-t-arrivé! Contre nu de la tirannie 𝄆 L'étandar sanglant è levé, 𝄇 Antandé-vu dan lé campagne Muegir ce féroce solda? Il vienne juesque dan vo bra Égorgé vo fil, vo compagne! Au-x-arme, cituayen, Formé vo batayon, Marshé, marshé! Qu'eun sang empuer Abreuve no siyon! Au-x-arme, cituayen, Formé vo batayon, Marshon, marshon! Qu'eun sang empuer Abreuve no siyon! Que veu cètte horde d'esclave, De trètre, de rua conjueré? Pur qui ce-s-ignoble-s-antrave, 𝄆 Ce fer dé longtam préparé? 𝄇 Francè, pur nu, ah! quel utrage Quel transpor-s-il duat éxité! C'è nu qu'on ose médité De randre a l'antique esclavage! Qua! dé cohorte-s-étrangère Feré la lua dan no fuayé! Qua! Ce phalange mercenère 𝄆 Terraseré no fié guerrié! 𝄇 Gran Dieu! Par dé men-s-anshènée No fron su le ju se pluaré De vil despote deviandré Lé mètre de no destinée! Tramblé, tiran-s-e vu perfide L'opprobre de tu lé parti, Tramblé! vo projè parricide 𝄆 Vont anfen recevuar leur pri! 𝄇 Tu-t-è solda pur vu combattre, S'il tombe, no jeunes héro, La terre an produei de nuvo, Contre vu tu prè-s-a se battre! Francè, an guerrié manganime, Porté-s-u retené vo cu! Épargné ce triste victime, 𝄆 A regrè s'arman contre nu. 𝄇 Mè ce despote sanguinère, Mè se complice de Buiyé, Tu ce tigre qui, san pitié, Déshire le sen de leur mère ! Amur sacré de la Patrie, Conduei, sutien no bra vangeur Liberté, Liberté shérie, 𝄆 Comba-s-avèc te défanseur! 𝄇 Su no drapo que la victuare Accure a te male-s-acçan, Que te-s-ennemi-s-expiran Vua ton triomphe e notre gluare! </poem>|<poem>[a.lõ.z‿ɑ̃.fɑ̃ də la pa.tʁi.ə] [lə ʒuʁ də glwaʁ ɛ.t‿a.ʁi.ve] [kõ.tʁə nu də la ti.ʁa.ni.ə] 𝄆 [le.tɑ̃.daʁ sɑ̃.glɑ̃.t‿ɛ lə.ve] 𝄇 [ɑ̃.tɑ̃.de vu dɑ̃ le kɑ̃.pa.ɲə] [my.ʒiʁ se fe.ʁɔ.sə sɔl.da] [il vjɛ.nə ʒys.kə dɑ̃ vo bʁa] [e.gɔʁ.ʒe vo fil vo kõ.pa.ɲə] [o.z‿aʁ.mə si.twa.jɛ̃] [fɔʁ.me vo ba.ta.jõ] [maʁ.ʃe maʁ.ʃe] [kœ̃ sɑ̃.g‿ɛ̃.pyʁ] [a.bʁœ.və no si.jõ] [o.z‿aʁ.mə si.twa.jɛ̃] [fɔʁ.me vo ba.ta.jõ] [maʁ.ʃõ maʁ.ʃõ] [kœ̃ sɑ̃.g‿ɛ̃.pyʁ] [a.bʁœ.və no si.jõ] [kə vø sɛ.tə ɔʁ.də dɛs.kla.və] [də tʁɛ.tʁə də ʁwa kõ.ʒy.ʁe] [puʁ ki se.z‿i.ɲɔ.blə.z‿ɑ̃.tʁa.və] 𝄆 [se fεʁ de lõg.tɑ̃ pʁe.pa.ʁe] 𝄇 [fʁɑ̃.sɛ puʁ nu a kɛl u.tʁa.ʒə] [kɛl tʁɑ̃s.pɔʁ.z‿il dwa.t‿ɛk.si.te] [sɛ nu kõ.n‿o.zə me.di.te] [də ʁɑ̃.dʁ‿a lɑ̃.tik ɛs.kla.va.ʒə] [kwa de ko.ɔʁ.tə.z‿e.tʁɑ̃.ʒɛ.ʁə] [fə.ʁe la lwa dɑ̃ no fwa.je] [kwa se pa.lɑ̃.ʒə mɛʁ.sə.nɛ.ʁə] 𝄆 [tɛ.ʁa.sə.ʁe no fje gɛ.ʁje] 𝄇 [gʁɑ̃ djø paʁ de mɛ̃.z‿ɑ̃.ʃ(e).ne.ə] [no fʁõ su lə ʒu sə plwa.ɛ.ʁe] [də vil dɛs.pɔ.tə də.vjɑ̃.dʁe] [le mɛ.tʁə də no dɛs.ti.ne.ə] [tʁɑ̃.ble ti.ʁɑ̃.z‿e vu pɛʁ.fi.də] [lɔ.pʁɔ.bʁə də tu le paʁ.ti] [tʁɑ̃.ble vo pʁɔ.ʒɛ pa.ʁi.si.də] 𝄆 [võ.t‿ɑ̃.fɛ̃ ʁə.sə.vwaʁ lœʁ pʁi] 𝄇 [tu.t‿ɛ sɔl.da puʁ vu kõ.ba.tʁə] [sil tõ.bə no ʒœ.nə.z‿e.ʁo] [la tɛ.ʁ‿ɑ̃ pʁɔ.dɥi də nu.vo] [kõ.tʁə vu tu pʁɛ.z‿a sə ba.tʁə] [fʁɑ̃.sɛ ɑ̃ gɛ.ʁje ma.ɲa.ni.mə] [pɔʁ.te.z‿u ʁə.tə.ne vo ku] [e.paʁ.ɲe se tʁis.tə vik.ti.mə] 𝄆 [a ʁə.gʁɛ saʁ.mɑ̃ kõ.tʁə nu] 𝄇 [me.se dɛs.pɔ.tə sɑ̃.gi.nɛ.ʁə] [me.se kõ.pli.sə də bwi.je] [tu.se ti.gʁə ki sɑ̃ pi.tje] [de.ʃi.ʁə lə sɛ̃ də lœʁ mɛ.ʁə] [a.muʁ sa.kʁe də la pa.tʁi.ə] [kõ.dɥi su.tjɛ̃ no bʁa vɑ̃.ʒœʁ] [li.bɛʁ.te li.bɛʁ.te ʃe.ʁi.ə] 𝄆 [kõ.ba.z‿a.vɛk te de.fɑ̃.sœʁ] 𝄇 [su no dʁa.po kə la vik.twa.ʁə] [a.kuʁ a.te mɑ.lə.z‿a.kɑ̃] [kə.te.z‿ɛ.nə.mi.z‿ɛks.pi.ʁɑ̃] [vwa tõ tʁi.õ.fe nɔ.tʁə glwa.ʁə] </poem>|<poem>Let’s go, children of the Motherland The day of glory has arrived! All the tyranny are against us Their blood-spattered banners arise Can you hear now out in the country Their blood-thirsty soldiers ablare? They’re coming right into your hands To cut throats to sons of yours, your women! <small>**Chorus:**</small> To arms, compatriots Form up your battle corps March on, march on! Let blood impure Onto our furrows pour! To arms, compatriots Form up your battle corps March on, march on! Let blood impure Onto our furrows pour! What do they want, this horde of slaves Of traitors and king conjurors? For who are these ignoble vile chain Balls and chain have long been prepared? French people, ah, for us! A disgrace! What outburst it must then arouse! It’s us they dare to conspire To drag back to stagnant slavery old days! <small>***Chorus***</small> How can it be that foreign cohorts Would be the law in our lands! How come that mercenary soldiers 𝄆 Would shoot at our rebellious lads! 𝄇 Great God of Mine! With those chained hands We’d yield ourselves to the yoke Vile despots would have us provoked To make them the rulers of our fortune! <small>***Chorus***</small> Shake over, tyrants and you, traitors- Disgrace to all parts of the earth. Fear, your vile schemes parricidal 𝄆 Will at last get what they’re worth! 𝄇 All here are for a great combat If our young heroes die Our land will give us other ones Ready to put up a fight against you! <small>***Chorus***</small> French people in majestic battle force, Stand up to and then return the blows! Spare all those victimized soldiers 𝄆 Who regret fighting against us 𝄇 But spare none of bloody despots No pity on Bouillé’s satraps Those tigers without any qualm Would rip open their mother’s bosom! <small>***Chorus***</small> The sacred love to our Motherland, Lead and support our avenging arms Liberty, Liberty, our Dear 𝄆 Come on fight by your defenders’ side! 𝄇 Under our flags and victory Will haste to our courageous men And dying foes will have to face All your triumph and all of our glory! <small>***Chorus***</small></poem>|
- Children's verse (1792)
|French|IPA transcription|English translation|
| --- | --- | --- |
|<poem>Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus, Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre.</poem>|<poem>[nu ɑ̃.tʁə.ʁɔ̃ dɑ̃ la ka.ʁjɛʁ] [kɑ̃ no ɛ.ne ɛ.ni.ɡʁɛk sə.ʁɔ̃ ply] [nu i.ɡʁɛk tʁu.vʁɔ̃ lœʁ pu.sjɛʁ] 𝄆 [e la tʁas də lœʁ vɛʁ.ty] 𝄇 [bjɛ̃ mwɛ̃ ʒa.lu də lœʁ syʁ.vi.vʁə] [kə də paʁ.ta.ʒe lœʁ sɛʁ.kœj] [nu o.ʁɔ̃ lə sy.blim ɔʁ.ɡœj] [də le vɑ̃.ʒe u də le sɥi.vʁə]</poem>|<poem>We too shall enlist When our elders' time has come To add to the list of deeds Inscribed upon their tombs We are much less jealous of surviving them Than of sharing their coffins We shall have the sublime pride Of avenging or joining them</poem>|

- Additional verses
These verses were removed from the national anthem.
|French|English|
| --- | --- |
|<poem>Dieu de clémence et de justice Vois nos tyrans, juge nos coeurs Que ta bonté nous soit propice 𝄆 Défends-nous de ces oppresseurs 𝄇 Tu règnes au ciel et sur terre Et devant Toi, tout doit fléchir De ton bras, viens nous soutenir Toi, grand Dieu, maître du tonnerre. Peuple français, connais ta gloire ; Couronné par l'Égalité, Quel triomphe, quelle victoire, 𝄆 D'avoir conquis la Liberté ! 𝄇 Le Dieu qui lance le tonnerre Et qui commande aux éléments, Pour exterminer les tyrans, Se sert de ton bras sur la terre. Nous avons de la tyrannie Repoussé les derniers efforts ; De nos climats, elle est bannie ; 𝄆 Chez les Français les rois sont morts. 𝄇 Vive à jamais la République ! Anathème à la royauté! Que ce refrain, partout porté, Brave des rois la politique. La France que l'Europe admire A reconquis la Liberté Et chaque citoyen respire 𝄆 Sous les lois de l'Égalité ; 𝄇 Un jour son image chérie S'étendra sur tout l'univers. Peuples, vous briserez vos fers Et vous aurez une Patrie ! Foulant aux pieds les droits de l'Homme, Les soldatesques légions Des premiers habitants de Rome 𝄆 Asservirent les nations. 𝄇 Un projet plus grand et plus sage Nous engage dans les combats Et le Français n'arme son bras Que pour détruire l'esclavage. Oui ! Déjà d'insolents despotes Et la bande des émigrés Faisant la guerre aux Sans-culottes 𝄆 Par nos armes sont altérés ; 𝄇 Vainement leur espoir se fonde Sur le fanatisme irrité, Le signe de la Liberté Fera bientôt le tour du monde. O vous ! Que la gloire environne, Citoyens, illustres guerriers, Craignez, dans les champs de Bellone, 𝄆 Craignez de flétrir vos lauriers ! 𝄇 Aux noirs soupçons inaccessibles Envers vos chefs, vos généraux, Ne quittez jamais vos drapeaux, Et vous resterez invincibles. Enfants, que l'Honneur, la Patrie Fassent l'objet de tous nos vœux ! Ayons toujours l'âme nourrie 𝄆 Des feux qu'ils inspirent tous deux. 𝄇 Soyons unis ! Tout est possible ; Nos vils ennemis tomberont, Alors les Français cesseront De chanter ce refrain terrible : </poem>|<poem>God of mercy and justice See our tyrants, judge our hearts Your goodness be with us 𝄆 Defend us from these oppressors 𝄇 You reign in heaven and on earth And before you all must bend In your arms, come support us You, great God, lord of thunder. French people know thy glory Crowned by equality, What a triumph, what a victory, 𝄆 To have won Liberty! 𝄇 The God who throws thunder And who commands the elements, To exterminate the tyrants Uses your arm on Earth. Of tyranny, we have Rebuffed its last efforts; It is banished from our climes; 𝄆 Among the French the kings are dead. 𝄇 The Republic may live forever! Anathema to royalty! May this refrain, sung everywhere, Protect politics from kings. France that Europe admires Has regained liberty And every citizen breathes 𝄆 Under the laws of equality, 𝄇 One day its beloved image Will extend throughout the universe. Peoples, you will break your chains And you will have a fatherland! Trampling on the rights of man, the soldierly legions of Rome's first inhabitants 𝄆 enslaved nations. 𝄇 A larger project, and wiser, Engages us in battle And the Frenchman only arms himself In order to destroy slavery. Yes! Already insolent despots And the band of emigrants Waging war on the _sans-culottes_ 𝄆 By our weapons are withered; 𝄇 Vainly their hope is based On piqued fanaticism The sign of liberty Will soon spread around the world. To you! Let glory surround Citizens, illustrious warriors, Fear in the fields of Bellona, 𝄆 Fear the sullying of your laurels! 𝄇 To dark unfounded suspicions Towards your leaders, your generals, Never leave your flags, And you will remain invincible. Children, let honour and fatherland be the object of all our wishes! Let us always have souls nourished 𝄆 With fires that might inspire both. 𝄇 Let us be united! Anything is possible; Our vile enemies will fall, Then the French will cease To sing this fierce refrain: </poem>|

### Adaptations into regional languages

France is a country made up of various ethnicities on which they have historically settled. As such, many regional languages are spoken to this day. These languages include Alsatian (a German dialect spoken in the east of France), Basque (a language isolate spoken in the southwest of France), Breton (a Celtic language spoken in the northwest of France), Catalan (a language intelligible between French and Spanish, spoken in the south of France), Corsican (a language similar to Italian, spoken in the Mediterranean), Occitan (a language similar to Catalan, also spoken in the south of France), and Walloon (a language similar to French, spoken in the Wallonia region in Belgium).

The popularity of this anthem has spread across the globe. It has been translated into several languages by known poets over the course of its existence.

#### Basque variant

The Basque poet Joan Batista Arxu published a version in his 1848 collection _Kantu patriotak_ (meaning "Patriotic songs").

#### Wallon variant

The French national anthem has been the basis of a couple patriogic songs written in the Walloon language as part of the Walloon Movement.

### Other variants based on "La Marseillaise"

There have been many different variants of the song, including:
- "Belarusian Marseillaise", a Belarusian patriotic socialist song
- "Deutsche Arbeiter-Marseillaise", a song created for the General German Worker's Association
- "La Marseillaise de la Commune", the anthem of the Paris Commune in 1871
- "La Marseillaise des Blancs", the royalist and Catholic variation
- "Onamo", a Montenegrin patriotic song also known as the "Serbian Marseillaise"
- "The Pride of Brisbane Town", the official team song of the Brisbane Lions
- "The Internationale", a communist and socialist anthem
- "The Women's Marseillaise", a women's suffrage song
- "Worker's Marseillaise", a socialist song of the Russian Revolution

#### Russian variant

In Russia, "La Marseillaise" was used as a republican revolutionary anthem by Russian French speakers in the 18th century. In 1875 Peter Lavrov wrote the original Russian text (not translated from the French lyrics) to the same tune, known as the "Worker's Marseillaise", which became very popular in Russia and was used in the Russian Revolution of 1905. After the February Revolution, it was used as the semi-official national anthem of the Russian republic, and after the October Revolution, it was official along with The Internationale.

## Quotation in music

Composers have often quoted "La Marseillaise" in their music; for example, Tchaikovsky uses it in the 1812 overture.

## Related pages

- Chant du départ

## Infobox (anthem)

- **title**: « La Marseillaise »
- **english title**: The Marseillaise
- **alt title**: « Chant de Guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin »
- **en alt title**: "War song for the Army of the Rhine"
- **image**: Le Départ des Volontaires (La Marseillaise) par Rude, Arc de Triomphe Etoile Paris.jpg
- **caption**: _The Marseillais volunteers departing_, sculpted on the Arc de Triomphe
- **prefix**: National
- **author**: Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
- **lyrics date**: 1792
- **composer**: Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
- **adopted**: 14 July 1795
- **until**: 1799
- **readopted**: 1870
- **sound**: La Marseillaise.ogg
- **sound title**: "La Marseillaise" (instrumental)