Composed in one night by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, “La Marseillaise” has helped to increase nationalism in France from the day it was written to present times. The original title was “Chant de guerre de l'armée du Rhin,” which translates to “War Song of the Army of the Rhine.” The mayor of Strasbourg, where Rouget de Lisle was stationed, wanted a marching song for the French army, because France had declared war on Austria. Four days after declaring war, on April 24, 1792, Rouget de Lisle wrote the song.1 When the song was played at a banquet in Marseilles,2 its popularity increased greatly.3 It became so popular with the volunteer soldiers from Marseilles that it was renamed “La Marseillaise.”4 Printed copies were given to soldiers marching
