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The National Anthem is the other national symbol defined in article 11 of the Constitution. With music by Alfredo Keil and words by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça, A Portuguesa was composed in the emotional aftermath of the Ultimatum and became the march of the rebellion of 31 January. It was certainly for this reason that it was forbidden by the monarchy. The 5 October revolution recovered it and on 17 November the War Ministry determined that whenever the anthem A Portuguesa was played all military personnel present in uniform should salute and if in civilian clothes should bare their heads, in both cases remaining upstanding until it ended.

However, approval of the official version only came in 1957 through a resolution of the Council of Ministers published in Diário do Governo, 1st series, nº 199 of 4-9-1957. As a result, a version for symphony orchestra was produced by Frederico de Freitas and on the basis of this a military band version was developed by Major Lourenço Alves Ribeiro, inspector of military bands.

  Listen to the National Anthem (MP3 File Format - 1,18MB)

A Portuguesa Heróis do mar, nobre povo, / Heroes of the sea, noble people, Nação valente, imortal, / Valiant and immortal nation, Levantai hoje de novo / Arise today once more O esplendor de Portugal! / The splendour of Portugal! Entre as brumas da memória, / From out of the mists of memory, Ó Pátria, sente-se a voz / Oh Fatherland, the voices are felt Dos teus egrégios avós, / Of your great forefathers, Que há-de guiar-te à vitória! / That shall lead you on to victory! Às armas, às armas! / To arms, to arms! Sobre a terra, sobre o mar, / Over land, over sea, Às armas, às armas! / To arms, to arms! Pela Pátria lutar / To fight for the Fatherland! Contra os canhões marchar, marchar! / Against the cannons, we march, we march! Composers Alfredo Keil, Henrique Lopes de Mendonça