The Italian National Anthem"Inno di Mameli"

Michelle Ehrmann

History

• The lyrics to the National Anthem of Italy were written as a poem in Genoa by Goffredo Mameli in 1847

• Michele Novaro set the lyrics to music in Turin two months later.

• It became the Italian National Anthem, or “il Canto degli Italiani”, when Italy became a republic in 1946.

• It was not officially declared the national anthem by law until November 2005.

Goffredo Mameli• Had a degree in law from the University of

Genoa• Became enthusiastic about the republican ideals

of Giuseppe Mazzini• In March 1848, he fought against the Austrians

in Lombardy• In December 1848 he went to Rome, where he

helped establish the Roman Republic• Mameli died from a wound suffered fighting for

the Roman

1. The helmet of Marcus Scipio in the novel Hannibal’s children. 2. A possible reference to the ancient custom of slaves cutting their hair short as a sign of servitude

L’inno di• Fratelli d'Italia,

L'Italia s'è desta; Dell'elmo di Scipio1 S'è cinta la testa. Dov'è la Vittoria? Le porga la chioma;2 Ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò.

Stringiamci a coorte! Siam pronti alla morte; Italia chiamò.

Mameli• Brothers of Italy,

Italy has awakened;Scipio's helmet1

she has put on her head.Where is the Victory? Offer her the hair;2 because slave of RomeGod created her.

Let us unite!We are ready to die;Italy called.

• Noi siamo da secoli Calpesti, derisi, Perché non siam popolo, Perché siam divisi. Raccolgaci un'unica Bandiera, una speme; Di fonderci insieme Già l'ora suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte! Siam pronti alla morte; Italia chiamò.

• We have been for centuriesstamped on, and laughed at, because we are not one people, because we are divided. Let's unite underone flag, one dream; To melt together Already the time has come.

Let us unite!We are ready to die;Italy called.

• Uniamoci, amiamoci; L'unione e l'amore Rivelano ai popoli Le vie del Signore. Giuriamo far libero Il suolo natio: Uniti, per Dio, Chi vincer ci può?

Stringiamci a coorte! Siam pronti alla morte; Italia chiamò.

• Let's unite, let's love;The union and the loveReveal to the peopleGod's ways.We swear to liberatethe native soil:United, for God,Who can beat us?

Let us unite!We are ready to die;Italy called.

3. Legnano is the site of a famous battle in 1176 where various Italian comunities fought against Emperor Federico Barbarossa for their freedom4. Ferruccio was a captain who valliantly defended Florence from the troops of Charles V in 1530.5. Balilla was a nickname for Giambattista Perasso who was a child from Genova that fought in the 1746 people's revolution of Genova against the Austrians.

• Dall'Alpe a Sicilia, Dovunque è Legnano3; Ogn'uom di Ferruccio4 Ha il core e la mano; I bimbi d'Italia Si chiaman Balilla5; Il suon d'ogni squilla I Vespri suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte! Siam pronti alla morte; Italia chiamò.

• From the Alps to Sicily,Everywhere is Legnano3; Every man of Ferruccio4 has the heart and the hand;the children of Italyare called Balilla5; The sound of every church bellcalling for evening prayers.

Let us unite!We are ready to die;Italy called.

6. "Sold swords" - referring to Italian mercanaries bought by the French to fight against the Italian Republicans.7. “Polish blood" - referring to the Austrians who jointly with Russia invaded and destroyed Poland.8. A group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of military communities in Ukraine and Southern Russia.

• Son giunchi che piegano Le spade vendute6; Già l'Aquila d'Austria Le penne ha perdute. Il sangue d'Italia E il sangue Polacco7 Bevé col Cosacco8, Ma il cor le bruciò.

Stringiamci a coorte! Siam pronti alle morte; Italia chiamò

• They are branches that bendthe sold swords6; Already the eagle of Austriahas lost its feathers.the blood of Italyand the Polish blood7 Drank with Cossacks8

But its heart was burnt.

Let us unite!We are ready to die;Italy called.

Bibliography

• "The Italian National Anthem." www.RomanLife-RomeItaly.com. Marcus Ruhl, n.d.      Web. 22 Mar. 2011. <http://www.romanlife-romeitaly.com/      italian-national-anthem.html>.

• Sarti, Roland. "Mameli, Goffredo." Italy: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present, European Nations. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2004. Modern World History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE53&iPin=ITA0492&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 24, 2011).

• "Goffredo Mameli." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/360771/Goffredo-Mameli>.