# Partant pour la Syrie

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Anthem of the Second French Empire (1852–1870)

Partant pour la Syrie English: 'Leaving for Syria' 19th century cover Former de facto anthem of France Also known as Le beau Dunois Lyrics Alexandre de Laborde Music Hortense de Beauharnais, 1807 Adopted 1852 Relinquished 1870 Audio sample Partant pour la Syrie, instrumental file help

Fictional scene of Queen Hortense singing "Partant pour la Syrie" before Empress Joséphine and Empress Eugénie.

Illustration of Dunois at prayer.

"**Partant pour la Syrie**" (French: [\[paʁtɑ̃ puʁ la siʁi\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French); lit. 'Leaving for Syria') was the *[de facto](/source/De_facto)* [national anthem](/source/National_anthem) of the [Second French Empire](/source/Second_French_Empire), used between 1852 and 1870. The music was composed by [Hortense de Beauharnais](/source/Hortense_de_Beauharnais),[1] and the lyrics were written by [Alexandre de Laborde](/source/Alexandre_de_Laborde), in or around 1807.

## Background

The song was inspired by [Napoleon I](/source/Napoleon_I)'s [campaign in Egypt and Syria](/source/French_campaign_in_Egypt_and_Syria). It represents a [chivalric](/source/Chivalry) composition of the aspirations of a [crusader](/source/Crusades) [knight](/source/Knight) in a style typical of the [First French Empire](/source/First_French_Empire). [Hortense](/source/Hortense_de_Beauharnais) (Napoleon I's stepdaughter and the mother of [Napoleon III](/source/Napoleon_III)) indicated in her *Memoires* that she wrote the music when she lived at [Malmaison](/source/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Malmaison). During its popularity in the 19th century, the song was arranged for numerous instruments by various composers.

The poem by Laborde was originally titled *Le beau Dunois*, telling the story of the handsome crusader Dunois. Prior to his departure to [Syria](/source/Syria_(region)), he prays to the [Virgin Mary](/source/Virgin_Mary) that he will love the most beautiful woman and that he himself may be the bravest, and his prayers are answered. On his return, the brave warrior wins the hand of Isabelle, the daughter of his [liege lord](/source/Liege_lord), and love and honor prevail.

## Popularity

The song was popular during the remainder of the First Empire, with Hortense in her exile at [Arenenberg](/source/Arenenberg), and with the [Bonapartists](/source/Bonapartist) during the [Bourbon Restoration](/source/Bourbon_Restoration_in_France). "Partant pour la Syrie" was the unofficial national anthem during the [Second Empire](/source/Second_French_Empire), an era when "[La Marseillaise](/source/La_Marseillaise)" was regarded with suspicion.[2] After the collapse of the Second Empire, the song was played to the Emperor Napoleon III as he departed from [Schloss Wilhelmshöhe](/source/Schloss_Wilhelmsh%C3%B6he) to his exile in England in 1871, but by the time of [Empress Eugénie](/source/Eug%C3%A9nie_de_Montijo)'s funeral in 1920, the band did not know it and played "La Marseillaise" instead.[3] "Partant pour la Syrie" did, however, achieve a posthumous fame as one of the quoted tunes in "Fossils" from [Camille Saint-Saëns](/source/Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns)'s *[Carnival of the Animals](/source/Carnival_of_the_Animals)*, written in 1886 but not published until 1922.

It remains part of the repertoire of French military music.[*[dubious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement) – [discuss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Partant_pour_la_Syrie#Dubious)*]

## Lyrics

French original English translation I Partant pour la Syrie, Le jeune et beau Dunois, Venait prier Marie De bénir ses exploits : Faites, Reine immortelle, Lui dit-il en partant, Que j'aime la plus belle Et sois le plus vaillant. II Il trace sur la pierre Le serment de l'honneur, Et va suivre à la guerre Le Comte son seigneur ; Au noble vœu fidèle, Il dit en combattant : Amour à la plus belle, Honneur au plus vaillant. III On lui doit la Victoire. Vraiment, dit le seigneur ; Puisque tu fais ma gloire Je ferai ton bonheur. De ma fille Isabelle, Sois l'Epoux à l'instant, Car elle est la plus belle, Et toi le plus vaillant. IV A l'Autel de Marie, Ils contractent tous deux Cette union Chérie Qui seule rend heureux. Chacun dans la chapelle Disait en les voyant : Amour à la plus belle, Honneur au plus vaillant. I Leaving for Syria, The young and handsome Dunois Went to ask the Virgin Mary, His heroic deeds to bless, Make it so, immortal Queen He said on his leaving, "I love the most gorgeous And be the bravest." II On stone he writeth The oath of honour And into war followeth The count, his Lord. Faithful to his noble vow, He said while fighting, "Love to the most gorgeous, Honour to the bravest." III We owe thee the victory Truly! saith the Lord, Since thou hast established my glory, I shall make thee happy! My daughter Isabelle Will be thy wife For she is the most gorgeous And thou the bravest. IV At the altar of Mary, They pledged both This dear union Which alone bringeth happiness. Everyone in the chapel Said seeing them, "Love to the most gorgeous, Honour to the bravest."

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** By her own account; [Arthur Pougin](/source/Arthur_Pougin) proposed [Louis Drouet](/source/Louis_Drouet) as a more plausible candidate but Pougin's motives have since been impugned. [https://www.napoleon.org/magazine/plaisirs-napoleoniens/partant-pour-la-syrie-ou-le-beau-dunois/](https://www.napoleon.org/magazine/plaisirs-napoleoniens/partant-pour-la-syrie-ou-le-beau-dunois/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** In Verne's [*Une ville flottante*](/source/A_Floating_City) (1871) a pianist meets vigorous remonstrations from Americans who had requested the French national anthem, expecting "La Marseillaise".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ian Ousby: *The Road to Verdun* (Doubleday 2002 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0385503938](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0385503938)) footnote p167 [it's not clear this was a French band, though: Eugénie died in Spain and was buried in England]

## Further reading

- Baguley, David. *Napoleon III and His Regime: An Extravaganza*. Louisiana State University Press, 2000, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8071-2624-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8071-2624-1)

## External links

- [The melody](http://ingeb.org/songs/partantp.html)

- [Score of the song at imslp](http://imslp.org/wiki/Partant_pour_la_Syrie_(Beauharnais%2C_Hortense_de))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Partant pour la Syrie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partant_pour_la_Syrie) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partant_pour_la_Syrie?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.