La Marseillaise des Blancs (The Marseille [Song] of the Whites) is a royalist

Royalist

A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of government, but not necessarily a particular monarch...

 and Catholic adaptation of what has been used as the national anthem

National anthem

A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

 of France by republicans since the French Revolution

French Revolution

The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...

, known as La Marseillaise

La Marseillaise

"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. The song, originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" was written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792. The French National Convention adopted it as the Republic's anthem in 1795...

. The lyrical content of the Royal and Catholic variation is strongly counter-revolutionary and originated from the War in the Vendée, where locals attempted to resist the republican forces.

Lyrics

The below is based on a translation by Charles A. Coulombe

Charles A. Coulombe

Charles A. Coulombe is a prominent American Catholic historian, author, journalist, lecturer, and occasional researcher into the supernatural.- Life :...

. In the first verse the "blues", refers to the revolutionary republican

Republicanism

Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...

s—the Jacobins

Jacobin (politics)

A Jacobin , in the context of the French Revolution, was a member of the Jacobin Club, a revolutionary far-left political movement. The Jacobin Club was the most famous political club of the French Revolution. So called from the Dominican convent where they originally met, in the Rue St. Jacques ,...

. The Rodrigue mentioned in the second verse refers to Antoine Rodrigue, a local bishop who collaborated with the Revolution, contrary to papal authority. Similarly the "treasonous priests" in the fourth verse refers to certain "Constitutional priests", who swore loyalty to the government of the republican regime over the Pope, the loyal priests who refused had their parishes taken away from them and were replaced. In the same verse the Camus mentioned is Armand-Gaston Camus

Armand-Gaston Camus

Armand-Gaston Camus , French revolutionist, was a successful advocate before the French Revolution. In 1789 he was elected by the Third Estate of Paris to the Estates-General, and attracted attention by his speeches against social inequalities.Elected to the National Convention by the département...

, the Secretary of the Revolutionary Convention, who played a major role in seizing Church property and the regicide of the King of France.

French lyrics (Verse I) Allons armée catholique Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous de la république L’étendard sanglant est levé (repeat) Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes Les cris impurs des scélérats? Qui viennent jusque dans nos bras Prendre nos filles, nos femmes! (Refrain) Aux armes vendéens! Formez vos bataillons! Marchez, marchez, le sang des bleus Rougira nos sillons! (Verse II) Quoi des infâmes hérétiques Feraient la loi dans nos foyers? Quoi des muscardins de boutiques Nous écraseraient sous leurs pieds? (repeat) Et le Rodrigue abominable Infâme suppôt du démon S’installerait en la maison De notre Jésus adorable (Refrain) (Verse III) Tremblez pervers et vous timides, La bourrée des deux partis Tremblez, vos intrigues perfides, Vont enfin recevoir leur prix (repeat) Tout est levé pour vous combattre De Saint Jean d’Monts à Beaupréau, D’Angers à la ville d’Airvault, Nos gars ne veulent que se battre (Refrain) (Verse IV) Chrétiens, vrais fils de l’Eglise, Séparez de vos ennemis La faiblesse à la peur soumise Que verrez en pays conquis (repeat) Mais ces "citoyens" sanguinaires Mais les adhérents de Camus Ces prêtres jureurs et intrus Cause de toutes nos misères (Refrain) (Verse V) Ô sainte Vierge Marie Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs! Contre une sequelle ennemie, Combats avec tes zélateurs! (repeat) A vos étendards la victoire, Est promise assurément Que le régicide expirant, Voie ton triomphe et notre gloire! (Refrain)

English translation (Verse I) Arise, Catholic army The day of glory has arrived! Against us, the Republic's Bloody banner is raised (repeat) Do you hear in our countryside the impure cries of the wretches? Who come—unless our arms prevent them—to take our daughters, our wives! (Refrain) To arms, Vendéeans! Form your battalions! March, march, the blood of the blues will redden our furrows! (Verse II) What of the infamous heretics Who would make the law in our homes? What of the mercenary cowards Who would crush us under their feet? (repeat) And abominable Rodrigue Infamous henchman of the demon Who would settle in the house of our adorable Jesus? (Refrain) (Verse III) Tremble you perverse and timid, Before the bonfires of the adversaries Tremble, your perfidious intrigues, Shall finally receive their due (repeat) All are raised to fight you From Saint Jean d’Monts to Beaupréau, From Angers to the town of Airvault, Our lads want to only fight (Refrain) (Verse IV) Christians, true sons of the Church, Reject your enemies and The weakness and the servile fear Which you see in a conquered country (repeat) But these bloody "citizens," These allies of Camus, these treasonous and imposed priests Are the cause of all our miseries (Refrain) (Verse V) O Blessed Virgin Mary, Lead and support our avenging arms! Against an enemy gang, fight alongside your zealous warriors! (repeat) To your standards victory, Is certainly assured The regicides' death, Shall be your triumph and our glory! (Refrain)

External links

• Royalist Marseillaise 1793