Dio vi salvi Regina (Italian for "God save you Queen") is a folk song in the culture of Corsica. The local nationalists also consider it the de facto "national anthem" of Corsica. It is customary to sing it at the end of any concert of Corsican folk music. It was written as a religious song in Italy by Francis de Geronimo (later canonized) about 1675. It was adopted de facto as the national anthem of Corsica when it proclaimed independence from the Republic of Genoa at Orezza, on 30 January 1735. Traditionally, a shepherd, Salvadore 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 intercessory 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. Lyrics Italian text Corsican text See also Evviva Maria References External links http://www.polyhymnion.org/lieder/images/diuvisalvi.mid Midi file of "Diu vi salvi Regina" http://www.polyhymnion.org/lieder/images/diuvisalvi.pdf Score-PDF file of "Diu vi salvi Regina" French anthems Patriotic songs Corsican music Historical national anthems 17th-century hymns French Christian hymns National anthem compositions in G minor 1675 songs