La Marseillaise
| English: 'The Song of Marseille' | |
|---|---|
The Marseillais volunteers departing, sculpted on the Arc de Triomphe | |
National anthem of France | |
| Also known as | « Chant de Guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin » (English: 'War Song for the Army of the Rhine') |
| Lyrics | Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, 1792 |
| Music | Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, 1792 |
| Adopted | 14 July 1795 |
| Readopted | 1870 |
| Relinquished | 1799 |
| Audio sample | |
Instrumental rendition in A♭
| |
"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. It was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by the First French Republic against Austria, and was originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin".
The French National Convention adopted it as the First Republic's anthem in 1795. The song acquired its nickname after being sung in Paris by Fédéré (volunteers) from Marseille marching to the capital. The anthem's evocative melody and lyrics have led to its widespread use as a song of revolution and its incorporation into many pieces of classical and popular music.
The Italian violinist Guido Rimonda pointed out in 2013 that the incipit of "Tema e variazioni in Do maggiore" of Giovanni Battista Viotti has a strong resemblance to the anthem. This incipit was first thought to have been published before La Marseillaise, but it appeared to be a misconception as Viotti published several variations of "La Marseillaise" in 1795 and wrote as a note "I have never composed the quartets below" (Je n'ai jamais composé les quatuors ci dessous).