"La Marseillaise", French National Anthem, sung here by Mireille Mathieu, written and composed in 1792,
by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, at the behest of the Strasborg city mayor, Baron de Dietrich.
The song was intended to inspire the French Army in defence against the invading
Prussians and Austrians who in the War of the Coalition, were trying to reverse or at
least contain the overthrow of monarchism to France. The song became the theme song of
of the revelutionaies (and later the French national Anthem)
Ironically, Baron Philippe Frédéric de Dietrich, who commissioned the song, fell victim
himself to the Reign of Terror, and was executed on the guillotine the following year, in 1793!




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