FLAGS in National Anthems and Patriotic Songs, Part IV (France)

Early national anthems flattered rulers of nations rather than the nations themselves. 

 The French Revolution produced the first “people’s anthem in 1792.

"La Marseillaise"(The song of Marseilles) is the national anthem of France, it was written and composed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, in 1792. The name of the song originally was Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin (War Song for the Army of the Rhine).

The second verse of three mentions the "Tricolore"(The French National Flag) where it asserts “Soon thy sons shall be victorious, when our banners high are raised,” while the first verse refers to “ the bloody standard of tyranny.”
The song was adopted in 1795 as the nation's anthem, banned in 1799 and restored in1879.  La Marseillaise have led to its use as a revolutionary anthem during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as, to the inspiration of many pieces of classical music and popular culture. In 1871, it was adopted as its marching song by the Paris Commune.

 “Liberty leading the People” by Eugène Delacroix (1830), which celebrates the July Revolution (Louvre Museum).

(To be continued)