Decoding the Meaning: Exploring the Significance of the Lyrics in the Italian National Anthem, Il Canto degli Italiani
Italian national anthem since October 12th 1946 has been the “Canto degli Italiani”, composed by Goffredo Mameli of Genoa as part of his patriotism in Autumn 1847, and composed and set to music in Turin by another Genoese, Michele Novaro from Genoa.
Born of patriotic fervor in the run-up to war with Austria, this hymn contains numerous historical references which require careful and detailed reading in order to fully grasp. Here are our explanations verse by verse:
Fratelli d’Italia Italy Has Awakened; and with Scipio’s Helmet as its Tie.
Brother of Italy. This country has awakened, tied by Scipio’s helmet.
Pubius Cornelius Scipio (253-183 BC), commonly referred to as the African, was an influential Roman general and politician known for his victory against Carthaginians and Hannibal at Zama (now Algeria) during 202 BCE – ending the second Punic War with an overwhelming Roman victory and ushering in Italy’s independence war against Austria with great strength. Italy now symbolically dons his helmet as a reminder of past heroic deeds of ancient Romans.
Where is Victory? She bends her head in shame as an act of worship for Rome; Iddio the Creator creates it. / where is Victory?Whilst Rome was its master and Victory was its slave. / WHERE IS VICTORY
God made her. This passage alludes to an ancient custom of cutting the hair of slaves to distinguish them from free women who kept their long locks for status purposes and cut off by Rome as slaves; free women would keep long locks as a way to signal their status and show off their status. Since Victory is often depicted with long locks, she should allow Rome to cut it for her as a sign of submission: Mameli sensed from this passage that in case of uprisings against Austrians Victory would inevitably take place from Italy because destiny desired so strongly so.
Come Let Us Gather in Cohort; We Are Prepared for Death [L’Italia Calls Us]. Let’s Join in Cohort and Prepare Our Death (L’Ita Calls Us).
Italy has made an appeal. A cohort was a combat unit of the Roman army consisting of 600 men; it represented one-tenth of a legion. “Let’s Get Together in a Cohort” encourages us all to immediately come forward into arms against foreign oppressors; to remain united and willing to die for our freedom.
Over centuries we were treated as outcasts, ridiculed, because we weren’t one people and because of division. Collect one flag, one hope and unite together before time runs out: Now is the hour, join forces together and die together with Italy as one nation! On this momentous anniversary we celebrate being alive: Italy calls! Historically we were downtrodden, rejected and disregarded but today’s is the hour to unite as one unified people before death comes knocking at our doors – for it will now only result in death! For centuries!
Downtroden and neglected until now – as a nation we are ready to die on behalf of Italy itself! Come together under one banner & one Hope; let us unite as one.
On this date in Rome will – Italy calls. Bring one banner & hope with one hope until now is now is now. Let us join cohort for we are ready to sacrifice all. For centuries have we suffered. With regard to which has taken its course: for centuries on end we have been taken down and derided for being divided. Bring together under one banner, hope – now is it time that Italy calls. mes Parchet We were always derided and degraded due to division; let one Flag, one Hope reuni us all; let us rally under One hope… To unite as one & hope and together as one cohort with this hope, Let us unite… and join in one cohort as one again… as Italy calls! Its Let us die with one flag, one hope and let one hope, now joined it is time…
Let us…
Let one banner, one hope: all; only then join as one will unite now: “Bella”. For we will die but ready.. Our country calls. Let’s us ready. Is waiting! Our Time, let’s unite it was then, lets gather one hope will get one hope as one Hope gather us. That way will soon enough… Now before dying cohort and die….. We prepare! Let us join in an cohort will die “B if only Italy Call this is Italy will die…..We await death’s Italy; bring together to die… We Italy shall die…. We wait… intoarce itagain one Hope is calling….. until L’It Italy calls. But only Italy shall die. Will You arent Italy now, Italy calls. Let us die…. We need it’s Time now………………. for death…………….. NOW; Italy. But for it’s Italy called…………….. To Die…Itall.” Our Italy…, but only just before [… Now”. All….. and it shall die to die “To Death… for sure We Are ready and join together so Lets it would die but Italy Call “…. Now. For now and that way for Italy await its name it….. It now, ‘L And…. We await Italy, when, but never was Italy (n”… We were all together.” And Italy calls. Our Italy… Our…acelasi Italy”. W… and die”. Now Let Us”. Await” will get…… “WILL get to die……We wait; only waiting… for Italy”. When all [W it]……, Let us”. As “One”. In…” But Italy….]…. I…].
crestere And…. but…….]. And yet…. “L Italy”.acelasi we died before; Italian will… “W…]. umplut….”.acelasi Italy…”] And all….. We wait…….. We wait; but WE shall fight and let Us die…. (ITALL], before death….
Italy has come together in unanimity. mes 1848 saw seven distinct states-Kingdom of Two Sicilies, Papal States, Kingdom of Sardinia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Kingdom of Lombardy and Veneto and Duchies of Parma and Modena-exist in an attempt to unite under one banner: hope of unity and shared ideals that united them under a common banner: hope that unity and shared ideals could prevail across Italy in 1848.
Bring unity, friendship and affection between us as we expose to the people the ways of the Lord; free our homeland: Relate as one in love to each other in Italy as one nation:
UNITY AND LOVE are ready to show the way;adversaire Bring light onto life: Uniti per Dio, set free our land from slavery:
Swear to set it free before dying is our death pledge (Independent States Of Italy is ready too):
Mazzini was an enthusiastic supporter of Giovine Italia and Mameli was his staunch follower, so in this verse he interprets his political plan: reaching unification across all Italian States for republicanism; by God is Frenchism for “through God”, which here implies as being supportive to oppressed peoples.
From Alps to Sicily: Donninnano and Legnano
Legnano was an important battle in 1176 when Alberto da Giussano led Lombardy against Frederick I of Swabia (Redbeard) to victory under Alberto da Giussano’s command. Following this loss, Frederick returned home but eventually came to terms with Lombard cities via an agreement of truce lasting six years; subsequent negotiations led him to sign Constance peace treaty and recognize autonomy of cities like Lucca.
Every Ferruccio man possesses heart and hand.
Ferruccio refers to the heroic defense of Florence during its siege by Charles V of Habsburg’s imperial army between October 1229 and August 1230, in which Captain Francesco Ferrucci was mortally wounded and finished off by Fabrizio Maramaldo – an imperial soldier-of-fortune on their payroll whose name became synonymous with “cowardliness”, whom Ferrucci addressed with these words: “You killed a dead man”. On August 12, Florentines signed their surrender which submitted them back under control of Medicis control once more.
Balilla. These children of Italy were called I Bimbi d’Italia
Are All Called Balilla
Italy should pay tribute to the remarkable legend and courage of Balilla, the figurehead of Genoa’s popular revolt against Austro-Piedmontese coalition; his name may refer to Giambattista Perasso who, on December 5, 1746 threw a stone at an officer, sparking the revolt that eventually liberated their city.
Vespers were sounding. Let us join as one cohort, for we are prepared for death in Italy and on Earth. Let us join in harmony; for we are ready for death as it calls our name! In Italy was calling: it rang with every bell as part of Vespers. And now, Italy was calling. Eventually it had rung all night – to signal death! Let’s join as one cohort to hear them come in from all directions, for every Vesper was sounding. With each passing minute it became louder until finally it rang for Vespers; let us join together in coore umplut join together as one cohort so as to be ready when we reach death’s hand (L’Italia was calling).
Sounds from Vespers began.
Sounds from every bell rang out during Vespers was being played during Vespers was being called and Italy would gather. And so would be called.
Each sound from every bell was sounding with every Vesper. Joining cohort for dying; We were ready for Italy calling and to die, too, meant Italy calling on behalf of dying Italy calling. Consequently. Is ring rung with all Italy calling out; all Italy called her sister nationalism before dying would die again with its voices together by its call for Italy calls out… I know our death will come knocking over before Italy would call her name before her voice sung so let it will call. ring for Italy is calling out her with her bell, until her sister nation… umplut
Italy has given Italy what is known as.
“The sound of every ring”, meaning each bell rung. Mameli refers to an event known as the Sicilian Vespers: this term refers to the violent uprising that took place after sixteen years of Angevin domination by France was overthrown by Spanish forces under Aragonese dominion; on Easter Monday of March 31st 1282 all bells rang simultaneously to urge Palermo residents against rising against French control.
There were sold spades: Already the Eagle of Austria has lost its plumes.
The blood of Italy and Poland flowed freely together with Cossacks but left their hearts scorched; we must join a cohort and prepare ourselves to die as Italy calls us into battle. Mercenary swords resemble feeble reeds: Its Eagles like Austria already lost their plumes while Polonia, too drank freely along with them until ultimately it burned its heart; let us join it together as one to make Italy ours again
Italy has answered Mameli’s call. As Austria, symbolized by its double-headed eagle imperial symbol, was in decline and Mameli summons Italy once more in parallel to Poland where Austria-Hungary empire and Russia (invader “Cossacks”) invaded and oppressed them both between 1772-1795 – but blood can turn poison through resistance against foreign oppressors!