Who wrote the music for Portugal’s national anthem, “A Portuguesa”?

Alfredo Keil wrote the music for Portugal’s national anthem, “A Portuguesa.”

Keil composed the patriotic song in 1890 after the British Ultimatum forced Portugal to abandon ambitions in parts of southern Africa. The event caused widespread anger and inspired a surge of Portuguese patriotic feeling.

Henrique Lopes de Mendonça wrote the lyrics, so Keil is specifically the composer rather than the lyricist. The song was first associated with opposition to Portugal’s monarchy and later became linked to the republican movement.

After the Portuguese Republic was established in 1910, “A Portuguesa” replaced the royal anthem. Its words and melody were officially adopted as the national anthem in 1911, although the lyrics were later revised slightly to remove language considered hostile to Britain.