Dio VI Salvi Regina

Dio Vi Salvi Regina

Diu vi Salvi Regina is a religious song in the folklore of Corsica. The local nationalists also consider it the national anthem of Corsica. It is customary to sing it at the end of any concert of Corsican folk music.

The anthem was written as a hymn in Italy by Francis de Geronimo (later canonized) about 1675. It was adopted as the national anthem of an independent Corsica when its people proclaimed their independence from the Republic of Genoa at Orezza, on 30 January 1735.

Traditionally, a shepherd, Sauveur Costa, is credited with converting the hymn not only to a Corsican anthem, but to a rallying symbol for Corsican independence. It was first performed at the Chapel of St. Mark (San Marco) on 25 April 1720.

The anthem requests the protection of the Virgin Mary, heartily concurred in by the independence leaders. There were a few changes, such as in the second stanza from "disperati" (desperate) to "tribolati" (troubled). The commonly used version's last stanza was an original addition, written in the Corsican language, which makes reference to victory against enemies of Corsica, as to highlight the adopted lyrics' intended use.