The Italian national anthem has been named after the young poet Goffredo Mameli, who penned the lyrics in 1847.

Mameli was injured defending the Roman Republic against the French in 1849 and died a month later. He was just 22 years old.

A song of freedom and independence, it was not adopted as the national anthem until over a century later in 1948.

The music was composed by Michele Novaro.

Inno di Mameli

Fratelli d'Italia
L'Italia s'è desta
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa
Dov'è la vittoria
Le porga la chioma
Chè schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò

Stringia moci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
Siam pronti alla morte
L'Italia chiamò

Hymn of Mameli

Italian Brothers,
Italy has awakened,
She has wreathed her head
With the helmet of Scipio.
Where is Victory?
She bows her head to you,
You, whom God created
As the slave of Rome.

Let us band together,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called us.

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