It was declared the official national anthem of Spain on 7 April 1822 when the Cortes Generales approved the corresponding decree, which was signed by King Fernando VII in Aranjuez two days later and finally published in the Gaceta de Madrid on 14 April.: 67 However, the liberal government was overthrown and the constitution repealed by Fernando VII in October 1823, with the Marcha Real resuming its role as the national anthem.
In the First Republic of 1873 to 1874, part of the greater 1868–1874 Sexenio Democrático achieved by the overthrow of Isabella II in the Glorious Revolution, the anthem occupied a discreet position; the most popular anthems used at this time were "La Marseillaise" and the "Himno de Garibaldi". However, by the time of the Second Republic of 1931 to 1939, the anthem had once again gained popularity to the point of becoming the primary institutional representative of the government during this period.: 104
Contrary to popular belief, the "Himno de Riego" was never declared the official anthem of the Second Republic. According to one opinion, it can be deduced that the republicans did not consider the 1822 declaration of the song as the national anthem superseded or repealed.: 263
Lyrics
Original lyrics (1820–1823)
The following is the original version used during the Trienio Liberal (1820–1823).: 289
Spanish
English
Refrain:
Soldados, la patria nos llama a la lid;
Juremos por ella vencer o prefiero morir.
Serenos, alegres, valientes, osados,
Cantemos, soldados, el himno a la lid.
Y a nuestros acentos el orbe se admire
Y en nosotros mire los hijos del Cid.
Refrain
Blandamos el hierro que el tímido esclavo
Del libre, del bravo, la faz no osa ver.
Sus huestes cual humo veréis disipadas,
Y a nuestras espadas fugaces correr.
Refrain
¿El mundo vio nunca, más noble osadía?
¿Ni vio nunca un día más grande el valor,
Que aquel, inflamados, nos vimos del fuego,
Excitar a Riego de Patria el amor?
Refrain
Honor al caudillo, honor al primero
Que el cívico acero osó fulminar.
La patria afligida oyó sus acentos
Y vió sus tormentos en gozo tornar.
Refrain
Su voz fué seguida, su voz fué escuchada,
Tuvimos en nada soldados morir.
Y osados quisimos romper la cadena
Que de afrenta llena del bravo el vivir.
Refrain
Mas ya la alarma tocan; las armas tan sólo
El crimen, el dolo, podrán abatir.
Que tiemblen, que tiemblen, que tiemble el malvado
Al ver al soldado la lanza esgrimir.
Refrain
La trompa guerrera sus ecos al viento,
Horror al sediento, ya ruge el cañón.
A Marte sañudo la audacia provoca
Y el ingenio invoca de nuestra nación.
Refrain
Se muestran: volemos, volemos, soldados.
¿Los veis aterrados, su frente bajar?
Volemos, que el libre por siempre ha sabido
del siervo vendido la audacia humillar.
Refrain
Refrain:
Soldiers, the homeland calls us to the fight;
Let us swear for her sake to triumph or I prefer to die.
Let them tremble, let them tremble, let the wicked man tremble
At the sight of the soldier wielding the spear.
Refrain
The war trumpet echoes to the winds,
Affrighting the greedy, the cannon now roars.
The audacity of our nation provokes
And the genius [of our nation] invokes wrathful Mars.
Refrain
They show themselves: let us fly, let us fly, soldiers.
Do you see them terrified, their head lowering?
Let us fly, such that the free man has always known
Of the sold servant, the audacity bowing.
Refrain
First short version (1931–1939)
The following is the version used during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939). It consisted of verses one, three and seven of the original version, with a few minor lyrical changes.: 247
They show themselves: let us fly, let us fly, soldiers.
Do you see them terrified, their heads lowering?
Let us fly, such that the free man has always known
Of the defeated servant, his head bowing.
Incidents involving the incorrect use of the anthem
1952 Cusco Cathedral bell dedication ceremony
Che Guevara claims that, when the famous bell of the Cusco Cathedral in Peru was rededicated at the expense of the Francoist Spanish government after a 1950 earthquake, the bell was made to play the Spanish national anthem, which then erroneously played the Himno de Riego, to the consternation of attending Spanish officials.
1968 European championship controversy
On October 1, 1967, during the qualifying stage for the European championship in Prague, the "Himno de Riego" was performed by mistake instead of the then official anthem of Spain "Marcha Real".
2003 Davis Cup controversy
At the 2003 Davis Cup finals held in Australia, James Morrison performed "Himno de Riego" instead of Spain's current national anthem, the "Marcha Real" (Royal March). Australian tennis officials claimed there was an error on the CD provided to the musician, but Spanish sport authorities still issued an official protest.