Published in January 2020, this article examines the origins of Italy’s national anthem, tracing its creation to autumn 1847 in Genoa. The words were written by a young student named Goffredo Mameli, while Michele Novaro, a composer from Turin of Genoese origin, set them to music. The anthem emerged during a period of intense patriotic fervor that foreshadowed the conflict against Austria. On 12 October 1946, the Hymn of Mameli became the official anthem of the Italian nation.
The Composer and the Writer
Goffredo Mameli came from a distinguished family: his father commanded a warship, and his mother, according to legend, also captivated the attention of Giuseppe Mazzini. At 15 years old, Mameli was already recognised as a poet. He attended university, where he devoted himself particularly to the study of law, which shaped his political ideas and made him a leader among his peers. Michele Novaro, the musician who transformed Mameli’s words into the anthem that would define a nation, was a Torino-based composer of Genoese heritage.
A Patriot’s Brief Life
When news of the Five Days of Milan reached Genoa in 1849, Mameli joined a group of young men defending their homeland against Austrian threats. It was Mameli who sent the telegram reading “Venite, Roma, Repubblica” (Come to Rome, Republic), calling on Mazzini to join them in the capital. On 3 June 1849, during the defence of Rome, Mameli was wounded in the leg. Transported to hospital, doctors debated amputation, but chose instead to wait for natural healing. The decision proved fatal. The young poet died six days before his twenty-second birthday, reciting verses in delirium. Giuseppe Verdi himself demonstrated the anthem’s significance in his 1862 Hymn of Nations, selecting the Hymn of Mameli to represent Italy in preference to the previous Royal March.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the words and music of Italy’s national anthem?
Goffredo Mameli, a young student in Genoa, wrote the words in autumn 1847, and Michele Novaro, a composer from Turin of Genoese origin, composed the music.
When did the Hymn of Mameli become Italy’s official anthem?
The anthem was officially adopted as Italy’s national anthem on 12 October 1946.
How did Goffredo Mameli die?
Mameli was wounded in the leg on 3 June 1849 during the defence of Rome. He died in hospital six days before his twenty-second birthday from complications of the untreated wound.
