The Marcha Real (, "Royal March") is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the two national anthems (along with that of Kosovo) in the world to have no official lyrics.
The anthem, one of the oldest in the world, was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española (The Spanish Infantry's Book of Military Bugle and Fife Calls), by Manuel de Espinosa. Here it is entitled La Marcha Granadera ("March of the Grenadiers"), although no composer's name is given.
In 1770, King Charles III declared the Marcha Granadera to be the official "Honour March" for the Sovereigns and the Royal Family, as it was played at public and ceremonial events, and because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the Marcha Granadera as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or "Royal March".
Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939) and the Trienio Liberal (1820-1823), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country's national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera.
Read more about Marcha Real: Current Version, Lyrics, Proposed Lyrics, Interpretation and Etiquette
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