Database: La Marseillaise

On April 20, 1792, the Assembly declared war on the "king of Bohemia and Hungary." The homeland was in danger and had to be defended at any cost. A few days later at the request of the mayor of Strassbourg, a young officer, Rouget de Lisle, sand a rather violent song which he had composed for the army of the Rhine: "Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous de la turannie, L'étendard sanglant est levé, Estendez-vous dans les campagnes, Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras, Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes! Aux armes, citoyens, Formex vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur, Abreuve nos sillons!" (Arise, children of the Fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny Raises its bloody barrier. Do you hear, in the countryside, The roar of those ferocious soldiers? They're coming right into your arms To cut the throats of your sons and women! To arms citizens, Form your battalions, Let us march, let us march! Let an impure blood water our furrows!) The music is said to be inspired from a Mozart concerto. In fact, the song was not made popular by the army of the Rhine, but by the volunteers from Marseilles who would take up the song and gradually transform it into an anthem. "La Marseillaise" became the rallying call to the French Revolution and embodied the values it sought to spread along with its conquests.