Hymno Patriótico

The Hino Patriótico, fully Hino Patriótico da Nação Portuguesa, was considered Portugal's first national anthem. Marcos Portugal, who had remained living in Portugal, had, in 1808, initially named the piece as 'the Prince's Hymn' (D. João VI Hymn). With this dedication, it was offered to the prince regent D. John and first performed for him in Brazil in 1809. The anthem was inspired by the cantata "La Speranza o sia l'Augurio Felice". The lyrics changed several times, altered by contemporary events, until settling into a more or less permanent form in 1821.

Hino Patriótico

English: Patriotic Hymn
National anthem of Portugal
Music	Marcos António Portugal, 1808
Adopted	13 May 1809
Relinquished	May 1834
Succeeded by	Hino da Carta
Audio sample
Hymno Patriotico (Instrumental) file help

It was a particularly popular tune with the Portuguese troops of Wellington's Peninsular Army, where it was known by the words from the chorus Vencer ou morrer ("Win or die"). Wellington's Advocate General, Seymour Larpent, noted in his diary on 9 June 1813, "The Portuguese are in the highest order, the men really look at least equal to ours, better than some … the infantry and the Caçadores in particular. The whole army marches very fresh hitherto, but the Portuguese in particular; they come in, even to the last mile, singing along the road." "I have heard it boldly played in the teeth of the enemy by the Portuguese bands … It made all Portuguese hearts pant for the fight … and as the voices joined the music, Vencer o morir [Vencer ou morrer] was not sung without meaning."

After D. Peter of Braganza became king and provided a new constitution, the song "Hymno da Carta" became more commonly used as the anthem, and the latter was officially decreed as such in 1834.

Lyrics

Portuguese lyrics	Translation
Hymno Patriotico	Patriotic Hymn
Eis, oh Rei Excelso os votos sagrados que os Lusos honrados vêm livres, vêm livres fazer. vêm livres fazer!	O Most Excellent King These are the sacred vows That the honorable Lusitanians Come freely, come freely to make. Come freely to make!
Por vós, pela Pátria! o Sangue daremos, por glória só temos vencer ou morrer! vencer ou morrer! ou morrer! ou morrer!	For thee, for the Fatherland! Our Blood we will give, For Glory we only have To win or to die! To win or to die! Or to die! Or to die!
Na guerra os horrores as perdas, os danos Fieís Lusitanos Não sabem temer Não sabem temer	In war, the horrors the losses, the damage The faithful Lusitanians They don't know fear They don't know fear
Por vós, pela Pátria o Sangue daremos por glória só temos vencer ou morrer vencer ou morrer ou morrer ou morrer.	For thee, for the Fatherland Our Blood we will give For Glory we only have To win or to die To win or to die Or to die Or to die.

See also

• Hino da Carta
• A Portuguesa

References

• The private journal of F. Seymour Larpent, during the Peninsular War, from 1812 to its close (1853)

External links

• Music Sheet (Page 1) (in Portuguese)
• Music Sheet (Page 2) (in Portuguese)
• Music Sheet (Page 3) (in Portuguese)
• Music of the Allies from the Peninsula to Waterloo Archived 21 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine