Hino da Maria da Fonte
Hino da Maria da Fonte, also known as Hino do Minho, is a Portuguese patriotic anthem from 1846. It was created during the Maria da Fonte Revolution, with music by Angelo Frondoni and lyrics by Paulo Midosi. The idea came from Midosi, who asked Frondoni to compose a song to accompany his verses; Frondoni reportedly wrote the music in one day.
The anthem became the song of the liberal revolt in the spring of 1846, opposing the government of the Count of Tomar. It was first sung on 24 June 1846 in the house of the Marquess of Nisa by an opera singer. On 6 July, during a performance of Almeida Garrett’s play O Alfageme de Santarém at the Dona Maria II National Theatre, the audience sang it with enthusiasm during the intermission, helping to solidify its popular status.
Today the Maria da Fonte anthem is still used in Portugal at formal military and civic ceremonies. It serves as honors music for the speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Prime Minister and cabinet, the President of the Supreme Court, and the heads of the armed forces. The lyrics have varied over time with political changes, but the original 1846 text by Midosi calls for liberty, courage, and resistance to tyranny, and praises Minho for sounding the call for freedom.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:36 (CET).