List of historical national anthems


The oldest national anthem defined as "a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism" by Dictionary.com is the Polish national anthem "Bogurodzica", "Mother of God". The hymn was created somewhere between the 10th and 13th centuries. However, it was not the de jure national anthem. The second oldest is the Dutch national anthem "Het Wilhelmus", which was written between 1568 and 1572, but not then given any official status. The first anthem to be officially proclaimed as such was "God Save The Queen", adopted by Great Britain in 1745. "Het Wilhelmus" was declared the national anthem of the Netherlands in 1932; both of these anthems remain in use today. A royal or imperial anthem is a song that is similar in patriotic character to a national anthem, but which specifically praises a monarch, or royal dynasty. Some states have doubled their royal or imperial anthem as their national anthem.
An anthem may fall out of use if the country that uses it ceases to exist, or because it adopts a new anthem; the rationale for a new national anthem is often political, perhaps based on a new ruling dynasty or system of government. For example, following the French Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy, "La Marseillaise", a republican revolutionary song, became France's national anthem in 1795. Conversely, when the monarchy was restored 19 years later, the 16th-century royalist tune "Vive Henri IV" was revived and adapted to create "Le Retour des Princes français à Paris", an overt celebration of the restored government. Following a number of further changes, "La Marseillaise" was readopted in 1870 and remains France's contemporary national anthem. Similar changes have occurred when Libya, Iraq, and South Africa democratized in the 2010s, 2000s, and 1990s respectively, new national anthems were adopted for those countries as well.
Some historical anthems share the same tune; for example, "Heil dir im Siegerkranz", the Imperial German anthem, used the same music as the UK's national anthem, "God Save the Queen". There are also instances of the music of a former national anthem still being used in a current anthem; for instance, the modern national anthem of Germany, "Das Lied der Deutschen", uses the same tune as the 19th and early 20th-century Austro-Hungarian anthem "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser". Another well-known example is the "Hymn of the Soviet Union", used until its dissolution in 1991, which was given new words and adopted by the Russian Federation in 2000 to replace the unpopular instrumental anthem it had introduced in 1993.
This was not the first time that a country's de facto or de jure national anthem had proved controversial among its own people. "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", a de facto anthem of the U.S. during the 19th century, divided opinion as it used the same tune as "God Save the Queen". A more recent example is "Hej, Sloveni", the former Yugoslavian state anthem which was retained by Serbia and Montenegro until 2006; because it was frequently booed when played in public – at sporting events, for example – it was eventually replaced.

List of former national anthems

StateNational anthem title
in local language
English translation of titlePeriodLyrics writerMusic composerAudioNotes--
Afghanistan"Soroud-e-Melli""National Anthem"1926–1943Unknown--
Afghanistan"Schahe ghajur-o-mehrabane ma""Our Brave And Noble King"1943–1973--
Afghanistan"Soroud-e-Melli""National Anthem"1973–1978--
Afghanistan"Soroud-e-Melli""National Anthem"1978–1992--
Afghanistan"Soroud-e-Melli""National Anthem"1992–1999
2002–2006
--
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic"Haykakan SSH orhnerg""Anthem of the Armenian SSR"1944–1991Sarmen--
Austrian Empire"Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser""God Save Emperor Francis"1797–1835
1848–1854
--
Austrian Empire"Segen Öst'reichs hohem Sohne""Blessings to Austria's high son"1835–1848--
Austrian Empire"Volkshymne""Anthem of the People" 1854–1867--
Austria-Hungary"Volkshymne""Anthem of the People"1867–1918--
Austria"Deutschösterreich, du herrliches Land""German Austria, you wonderful country"1920–1929
--
"Sei gesegnet ohne Ende""Be Blessed Without End"1929–1938--
"Azərbaycan Sovet Sosialist Respublikasının Himni""Anthem of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic"1944–1992
--
"Badnerlied""Song of Baden"1865–1871--
"Bayernhymne""Hymn of Bavaria"1806–1871--
"Land of the Rising Sun"1967–1970--

"Lefatshe leno la bo-rrarona""This Land of Our Forefathers"1976–1994
J. J. Loots
--
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina"Jedna si jedina"1992–1999Unknown, arranged by --
Empire of Brazil"Hino da Independência""Hymn of Independence"1822–1831--
Empire of Brazil"Hino Nacional Brasileiro""Brazilian National Anthem"1831–1889--
Bulgaria"Shumi Maritsa""Maritsa Rushes"1886–1944--
Bulgaria"Republiko nasha, zdravey!""Hail to our Republic!"1944–1950--
Bulgaria"Balgariyo mila""Dear Bulgaria"1950–1964
Mladen Issaev
Elisaveta Bagrjana

Georgi Zlatev-Tscherkin
Svetoslav Obretenov
--
"Dzyarzhauny himn BSSR""State Hymn of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic"1952–1991--
"Batchamrieng nei Satharonarodth Khmer""Song of the Khmer Republic"1970–1975--
"Dap Prampi Mesa Chokchey""Glorious Seventeenth of April"1976–1993--
"Esta É a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada""This Is Our Beloved Country"1975–1996--
"La Granadera"1823–1839--
"Li Zhong Tan Yue""Tune of Li Zhongtang"1896–1906--
"Song Long Qi""Praise the Dragon Flag"1906–1911--
"Gong Jin'ou""Cup of Solid Gold"1911–1912--
"Zhōngguó xióng lì yǔzhòujiān""China Heroically Stands in the Universe"1915–1921--
"Qing yun gē"1913–1915
1921–1928
--
"Guómín gémìng gē""Revolution of the Citizens"1926–1928Traditional--
"Zhōnghuá Mínguó guógē""National Anthem of the Republic of China"1928–1949--
"Guójìgē"1931–1937--

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika""Lord Bless Africa"1976–1994 and Joseph Parry--
"Marcha Libertadora""Liberating March"1819–1830UnknownUnknown--
"Wungwana Ngasi Nuwo""We have the Freedom"1975–1978--
Confederate States of America"God Save the South"1861–1865
--
"Les Trois Glorieuses"1969–1991--
Corsica"Dio vi Salvi Regina""God Save Our Queen"1755–1769
--
"Dio vi Salvi Regina""God Save Our Queen"1794–1796--
"Kde domov můj"
"Nad Tatrou sa blýska"
"Where is my home?" and "Lightning over the Tatras"1918–1938
1945–1993


Unknown
--
Free City of Danzig"Für Danzig""For Danzig "1920–1939--
Don Republic"Гимн донских казаков""Anthem of the Don Cossacks]"1919–1921--
"Eslami ya Misr""Be Safe Oh Egypt"1923–1936--
Egypt"Salam Affandina""Peace be upon you"1871–1922
1936–1958
--
"Yssalam Aljumhuriu Almisri""Egyptian Republican Anthem"1953–1958--
"Walla Zaman Ya Selahy""Oh For Ages! My Weapon!"1971–1979--
"Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistliku Vabariigi hümn""Anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic"1945–1991--
"Ityopp'ya Hoy Dess Yibelish""Ethiopia Be Happy"1930–1975--
"Ityopp'ya, Ityopp'ya, Ityopp'ya qida mi""Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia Be First"1975–1991--
Kingdom of France"Marche Henri IV / Vive Henri IV""Henry IV March / Long Live Henry IV"1590–1792
1814–1830
--
France"Chant du départ""Song of the Departure"1799–1815--
"Le Retour des Princes français à Paris"1814–1815
1815–1830
--
"La Parisienne"1830–1848--
"Le Chant des Girondins"1848–1852
Auguste Maquet
Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle
--
"Partant pour la Syrie""Departing for Syria"1852–1870--
Georgian SSR"Sakartvelos sabch'ota socialist'uri resp'ublikas sakhelmts'ipo himni""State Anthem of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic"1946–1991
--
"Dideba""Praise"1918–1920
1990–2004
--
German Empire"Heil dir im Siegerkranz""Hail to Thee in Victor's Crown"1871–1918--
Weimar Republic"Das Lied der Deutschen"1922–1933--
"Das Lied der Deutschen"1933–1945--
West Germany"Ich hab' mich ergeben"1949–1952--
West Germany"Das Lied der Deutschen"1952–1990--
"Auferstanden aus Ruinen""Arisen from Ruins"1949–1990--
"La Granadera"1847–1879--
"Himno Popular de Guatemala"1879–1896--
"Grenada National State Anthem"1967–1974" Rolstan Percival Jawahir Adams""John George Fletcher"--
"Quand nos Aïeux brisèrent leurs entraves""When our ancestors broke their chains"1893–1904Unknown--
"God Save the King"1810–1860--
"E Ola Ke Alii Ke Akua""God Save the King"1860–1866Lunalilo--
"He Mele Lahui Hawaii"1866–1876Liliuokalani--
"Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī""Hawaii's Own True Sons"1876–1893Kalakaua--
British Hong Kong"Tin Jau Neoi Wong""God Save the Queen"1841-1941
1945-1997
--
"La Granadera"ca. 1838–1915--
"Dios Salve a Honduras"ca. 1890-1915--
Hungarian Soviet Republic"Internacionálé"1919
--
"Salām-e Shāh""Royal Salute"1873–1909--
"Salāmati-ye Dowlat-e Elliye-ye Irān""Salute of Sublime State of Persia"1909–1933--
"Sorude Melli""National Anthem"1933–1979--
Iran"Ey Iran""Oh Iran"1979–1980--
"Payandeh Bada Iran""A Lasting Iran"1980–1990--
Kingdom of Iraq"As-Salam al-Malaki""Peace to the King"1924–1958--
"Walla Zaman Ya Selahy""Oh For Ages! My Weapon!"1958–1965--
"Mawtini""My Country"1958–1965, 2003–2004--
"Ardulfurataini"1981–2003--
"Marcia Reale d'Ordinanza""Royal March of Ordinance"1861–1946--
Italian Social Republic"Giovinezza""Giovinezza"1943–1945--
Katanga"La Katangaise""The Katangan"1960–1963--
"Qazaq Sovettik Socïalïstik Respwblïkasınıñ memlekettik änuranı""Anthem of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic"1945–1992
--
Kazakhstan"Qazaqstan Respwblïkasınıñ memlekettik änuranı""Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan"1992–2006 --
"Kyrgyz SSR Mamlekettik Gimni""Anthem of the Kirghiz SSR"1936–1991K. Malikov
T. Sydykbekov
M. Tokobaev
A. Tokombaev.

--
Korean Empire"Daehan jeguk aegukga""Patriotic song of the Great Korean Empire"1902–1910--
Korea"Kimigayo""His Imperial Majesty's Reign"1910–1945--
South Korea"Aegukga""Patriotic Song"1945–1948--
"As-salām al-amīrī""Amiri Salute"1951–1978--
Kingdom of Laos"Pheng Xat Lao""Anthem of the Lao people"1951–1975--
"Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskās Republikas himna""Anthem of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic"1945–1991
--
Kingdom of Libya"Lībīya, Lībīya, Lībīya""Libya, Libya, Libya"1951–1969--
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya"Allahu Akbar""God is Greatest"1977–2011--
"Lietuvos Tarybų Socialistinės Respublikos himnas""Anthem of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic"1950–1991
--
"A Portuguesa""The Portuguese"1910–1999--
Republic of Mahabad"Ey Reqîb""Oh Enemy"1945–1947Dildar--
"Hymne du Mali""National Anthem of Mali"1960--
"Ij Io̧kwe Ļo̧k Aelōn̄ Eo Aō""I Love the Islands"1986–1991--
"Nashid Wataniin Muritaniin""National Chant of Mauritania"1960–2017--
"Preamble"1989–1991--
"Deșteaptă-te, române!""Awaken thee, Romanian!"1917–1918--
"Imnul de Stat al RSS Moldovenești""State Anthem of the Moldavian SSR"1945–1991

--
"Deșteaptă-te, române!""Awaken thee, Romanian!"1991–1994--
Kingdom of Montenegro"Ubavoj nam Crnoj Gori""Our Beautiful Montenegro"1910–1918--
"Viva, Viva a FRELIMO""Long Live FRELIMO"1975–2002--
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika""Lord Bless Africa"1990–1991 and Joseph Parry--
"Rastriya Gaan""May Glory Crown Our Illustrious Sovereign"1899–2007--
"Wien Neêrlands Bloed""Those in whom Dutch blood"1815–1932--
East India Company.png" /> Netherlands East Indies "Het Wilhelmus""The William / William of Nassau"1932–1943Philips of Marnix, or Dirck Coornhert or Petrus DathenusAdrianus Valerius--
"Anthem without a title"2000–2010
Lucille Berry-Haseth
--
"Ode to Newfoundland"1907–1949--
"Hermosa Soberana""Beautiful and Sovereign"1893–1910--
"Nigeria We Hail Thee"1960–1978--
"Norges Skaal""Toast to Norway"1771–1819--
"Sønner av Norge""Sons of Norway"1820–c.1905--
"Heil dir, o Oldenburg""Hail to thee, o Oldenburg"1844–1871--
"Heft, Burgers, 't lied der vrijheid""Sing, Citizens, the song of Freedom"1854–1902--
Ottoman Empire"Mahmudiye Marşı""March of Mahmud"1829–1839
1918–1922
--
"Mecidiye Marşı""March of Abdülmecid"1839–1861--
"Aziziye Marşı""March of Abdülaziz"1861–1876--
"Hamidiye Marşı""March of Abdulhamid"1876–1909--
"Reşadiye Marşı""March of Mehmed Reşad"1909–1918--
"Tarana-e-Pakistan""Anthem of Pakistan"1947–1950Jagannath AzadJagan Nath Azad--
Pakistan "Pakistan Zindabad ""Long Live Pakistan "1956–1971Golam MostofaNazir Ahmed--
"Mawtini""My Homeland"1988–1996Ibrahim TuqanMohammed Flayfel--
"Noi vogliam Dio, Vergine Maria""Virgin Mary, We Desire God"1800–1857--
"Marcia trionfale""Triumphal March"1857–1869--
"Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan""Noble Hymn of the Tagalogs"1895–1899--
Poland"Bogurodzica""Mother of God"AD 977–1795--
"Hymno Patriótico""Patriotic Hymn"1809–1834--
"Hino da Carta""Hymn to the Charter"1834–1910--
"Prussia"1820–1830--
"Preußenlied""Song of Prussia"1830–1840--
Rhodesia and Nyasaland"God Save The Queen"1953–1963--
"God Save the Queen"1965–1970--
Rhodesia"Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia"1974–1979--
"Marș triumfal""Triumphant March"1862–1884None --
Romania"Trăiască Regele""Long live the King"1884–1948--
"Zdrobite cătușe""Broken Handcuffs"1948–1953--
"Te slăvim, Românie""We glorify thee, Romania"1953–1975
Dan Deșliu
--
"E scris pe tricolor Unire""Unity is written on our flag"1975–1977--
"Trei culori""Three Colours"1977–1990; adapted from the original "Cântecul tricolorului"--
Russian Empire"Molitva russkikh"1816–1833 --
Russian Empire"Bozhe, Tsarya khrani!""God Save the Tsar!"1833–1917--
Russian Republic"Rabochaya Marselyeza""Worker's Marseillaise"1917
--
"Rabochaya Marselyeza""Worker's Marseillaise"1917–1918
--
"Internatsional"1917–1944--
"Patrioticheskaya Pesnya"'1990–2000--
"Rwanda Rwacu""Our Rwanda"1962–2002
Abanyuramatwi

Abanyuramatwi
--
"Giubilanti d'amore fraterno""Praise of Brotherly Love"?–1896--
Kingdom of Sarawak"Gone Forth Beyond the Sea"?–1946--
"Fair Land Sarawak"1946–1973--
"S'hymnu sardu nationale"""1842–1861--
"Sachsen Hymne""Hymn of Saxony"1806–1871--
"السلام الملكي السعودي""Long live our King"1953–1984--
"Hej, Sloveni""Hey, Slavs"1992–2006--
"En Avant""Forward"1976–1978--
"Fyer Seselwa""Be Proud Seychellois"1978–1996--
Siam"Chom Rat Chong Charoen""Long live the Great King"1852–1871Unknown--
Siam"Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami""Glorify His prestige"1888–1932--
Slovakia"Hej, Slováci""Hey, Slovaks"1939–1945--
"Naprej, zastava slave""Forward, Flag of Glory"1860–1989--
"Heesta qaranqa Soomaaliya""National anthem of Somalia"1960–2000--
"Soomaaliyeey toosoo""Somalia, Wake Up"2000–2012
Yusuf Haji Aden
--
South Africa"God bewaar ons Koningin""God Save the Queen"1910–1957--
"Die Stem van Suid-Afrika""The Call of South Africa"1938–1997--
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika""Lord Bless Africa"1994–1997 and Joseph Parry--
"Internatsional"1922–1944--
"Gosudarstvenniy Gimn SSSR""Hymn of the Soviet Union"1944–1991--
Spain"Himno de Riego""Anthem of Riego"1931–1939--
Francoist Spain"Marcha Granadera""Grenadier March"1936–1975--
"Rufst du, mein Vaterland""When you call, my fatherland"
Henri Roehrich
--
"Gimni Respublikai Sovetii Sotsialistii Tojikiston""State Anthem of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic"1946–1994--

"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika""Lord Bless Africa"1976–1994 and Joseph Parry--
"Volkslied van Transvaal""People's Song of the Transvaal"1875–1902
"Salam al-Bey""Beylical Salute"1846–1958--
"Ala Khallidi""Immortal and Precious"1958–1987--
"İstiklâl Marşı""Independence March"1924–1930--
"Türkmenistan Sowet Socialistik Respublikasy Döwlet Gimni""State Anthem of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic"1946–1996--
"Inno al Re""Hymn to the King"1816–1861--
"Derzhavnyy himn URSR""State Anthem of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic"1949–1991--
"Walla Zaman Ya Selahy""Oh My Weapon"1960–1971--
"Hail, Columbia"1789–1931
--
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" --
"Hymne National Voltaïque""Voltaique National Anthem"1960–1984--
"O'zbekiston Sovet Sotsialist Respublikasining davlat madhiyasi""State Anthem of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic"1947–1992
--
"Marcia trionfale""Triumphal March"1869–1950--

"Pfano na vhuthihi""Peace and Togetherness"1979–1994--
Vietnam"Đăng đàn cung""The Emperor Mounts His Throne"1802–1945--
"Tiếng Gọi Công Dân""Call to the Citizens"1955–1975--
South Vietnam"Giải phóng miền Nam""Liberate the South"1975–1976--
West Papua"Hai Tanahku Papua""Oh My Land Papua"1961–1963--
"Württemberger Hymne""Hymn of Württemberg"1806–1871--
"al-Jumhūrīyah al-Muttaḥidâh""United Republic"1979–1989Abdullah "Al-Fadhool" Abdulwahab NomanAyoob Tarish--
"Himna Kraljevine Jugoslavije""Hymn of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia"1918–1941


--
"Hej, Sloveni""Hey, Slavs"1977–1992--
"La Zaïroise"1972–1997--
"Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika""Lord Bless Africa"1964–1973 and Joseph Parry--
"Ishe Komborera Africa""God Bless Africa"1980–1994 and Joseph Parry--

Translations and transliterations