Hymno Patriótico

English: Patriotic Hymn
Hymno Patriótico
National anthem of  Portugal
Music	Marcos António Portugal, 1808
Adopted	13 May 1809
Relinquished	1826
Audio sample
Hymno Patriótico (Instrumental) file help

The Hymno Patriótico (English: Patriotic Hymn), 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.

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. Wellington's Advocate General, Seymour Larpent, noted in his diary on 9th 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.

Eis, oh Rei Excelso
os votos sagrados
que os Lusos honrados
vêm livres, vêm livres fazer
vêm livres fazer

Here, oh Most Excellent King
Are the sacred vows
That the honoured Lusians
Come freely, come freely proclaim
Come freely proclaim

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 shed
For Glory we only have
To win or to die
To win or to die
to die
to die.