La Marseillaise — Part 2
When Louis XIV ascended to the throne in 1643 [1] and declared in a dramatic break from tradition that he would rule alone, he turned France into an absolutist state that centred around the king and believed in his divine right to rule. Many quotes are attributed to him — the probably apocryphal “L’État, c’est moi” [2] and also the heavier, more credible “Je m’en vais, messieurs, mais l’État demeuerera toujours.” [3] The latter of these he reportedly announced on his deathbed, meaning he wasn’t around to see himself proven wrong.
As time progressed, problems in France began piling up. 98% of the population (the Third Estate, constituting everybody who was not part of the nobility or the Church) had barely any political representation, increased taxation meant the working class financed the lavish lifestyles of the nobility. After participating in both the American War of Independence and the Seven Years’ War the French Crown was also severely in debt. Things came to a head in 1789 when poor harvests raised the costs of food again and living conditions for the Third Estate deteriorated even further.
Fear not. “In the hunted air of the people there was yet some wild-beast thought of the possibility of turning at bay.”
The royal fortress-cum-prison Bastille was attacked by a local mob on 14thJuly, 1789 in an event that marked the beginning of the French Revolution — and concurrently the end of the monarchical State that Louis XIV had believed would “remain forever.”
La Marseillaise — originally called “War Chant for the Rhine Army” [4] was written at the start of the Seven Years’ War — was popularized by army volunteers from Marseille in 1972, and later adopted in 1978 by revolutionaries as the official anthem of the newly-formed Republic. Its popularity endured. Below is a translation (…of the chorus and verse normally sung at modern events. The full song has over six verses.)
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Arise, children of the Fatherland
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
The day of glory is arrived!
Contre nous de la tyrannie
Against us, tyranny’s
L’étendard sanglant est levé
Bloodied flag is raised
L’étendard sanglant est levé
Bloodied flag is raised
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Do you hear, in the countryside
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
The roars of those ferocious soldiers?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
They’re coming into your arms
Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes!
To slaughter your sons, your countrymen!
Aux armes, citoyens!
To arms, citizens!
Formez vos bataillons
Form your batallions
Marchons, marchons,
March, march,
Qu’un sang impur
That impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons!
Might water our furrows!
[1] Credit where due to his mother Anne of Austria, who ruled as Queen Regent in her son’s stead from 1643 to 1651. Louis XIV was only four when the crown passed to him.
[1] Credit where due to his mother Anne of Austria, who ruled as Queen Regent in her son’s stead from 1643 to 1651. Louis XIV was only four when the crown passed to him.
[2] “I am the state.”
[3] “I may go, gentlemen, but the State will remain forever.”
[4] “Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin”
