Hymno Patriótico

The Hino Patriótico, fully Hino Patriótico da Nação Portuguesa, is considered Portugal's first national anthem.www.nationalanthems.info 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 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.After 200 years, a recording of the tune as a march was released in 2017 by the Bate Military Ensemble, using antique instruments from the University of Oxford collection

It was a particularly popular tune with the Portuguese troops of Wellington's Peninsular Army, where it was known by the final verse of the chorus, "Vencer ou Morrer" ("To Win or To 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 [sic] was not sung without meaning."

After Prince Peter became King Peter IV and provided a new constitution, the song "Hymno da Carta" became more commonly used as a national anthem, and the latter was officially decreed as such in 1834.www.nationalanthems.info

Lyrics Portuguese lyrics TranslationEis, Príncipe Excelso, os votos sagrados que os Lusos Honrados vêm livres, vêm livres fazer, vêm livres fazer!Behold, highest Prince, the sacred vows the Honoured 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, and for Country, Our blood we will give, for glory we have but to win or to die, to win or to die! Or to die! Or to die!Na guerra os horrores, as perdas, os danos; Fiéis Lusitanos não sabem, não sabem temer, não sabem temer!In war, all the horrors, the losses, the damage; Faithful Lusitanians do not know, do not know to fear, do not know to fear!Por vós, pela Pátria, o Sangue daremos; por glória só temos vencer ou morrer, vencer ou morrer! Ou morrer! Ou morrer! For thee, and for Country, Our Blood we will give; for glory we have but to win or to die, to win or to die! Or to die! Or to die!

Hymno Patriótico

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