Marsellaise etymology

Etymology

The name Marseillaise is derived from the city of Marseille in southeastern France.

Meaning

The Marseillaise is a patriotic anthem that symbolizes the French Revolution and the French Republic. Its lyrics express themes of:

• Freedom: "Aux armes, citoyens!" (To arms, citizens!)
• Equality: "Que veut cette horde d'esclaves" (What does this horde of slaves want)
• Fraternity: "Contre nous de la tyrannie" (Against us, tyranny)
• Patriotism: "Pour les enfants, pour les compagnes" (For our children, for our wives)

Origin

The Marseillaise was composed in April 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a captain in the French army. It was originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" (War Song for the Army of the Rhine).

On June 25, 1792, the song was performed by a detachment of the army from Marseille that had arrived in Paris to fight the monarchy. It quickly became popular among the revolutionaries and was adopted as the anthem of the French Republic in 1795.

The Marseillaise has been banned and then reinstated numerous times throughout French history, most recently during the Vichy regime during World War II. However, it remains one of the most iconic and enduring anthems in the world.

Marsellaise relate terms

• Marseilles

  Etymology and Meaning The name Marseilles French Marseille is thought to derive fro

• commit

  Etymology The word commit comes from the Latin word committere which means to put t

• endure

  Etymology Old French endurer Latin indūrāre to harden make firm Proto Indo Euro

• advocate

  Etymology The word advocate comes from the Latin word advocare which means to call

• holy

  Etymology The word holy originates from the Old English word hālġ which means sac

• touch

  Etymology Middle English touchin from Old French toucher from Latin tangere meanin

• brood

  Etymology The word brood comes from the Middle English word brod which is derived fr

• press

  Etymology The word press originates from the Old French word presse which in turn c

• society

  Etymology The word society comes from the Latin word societas which means associat