Quick facts for kids
İstiklâl Marşı
Dated copy of the original text that was released on March 21, 1921
|
National anthem of |
Turkey and Northern Cyprus |
Lyrics |
Mehmet Akif Ersoy, 1921 |
Music |
Osman Zeki Üngör (composer)
Edgar Manas (orchestration) |
Adopted |
1921 – Turkey
1938 – Hatay State
1983 – Northern Cyprus |
"İstiklâl Marşı" (Turkish pronunciation: [isticˈlal maɾˈʃɯ]; lit. Independence March) is the national anthem of both the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was officially adopted by Grand National Assembly on 12 March 1921—two-and-a-half years before the 29 October 1923 establishment of the nation—both as a motivational musical saga for the troops fighting in the Turkish War of Independence, and as an aspirational anthem for a Republic that was yet to be established.
Penned by Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, and ultimately composed by Osman Zeki Üngör, the theme is one of affection for the Turkish homeland, freedom, and faith, as well as praise for the virtues of hope, devotion, and sacrifice in the pursuit of liberty, all explored through visual, tactile, and kinesthetic imagery as these concepts relate to the flag, the human spirit, and the soil of the homeland. The original manuscript by Ersoy carries the dedication Kahraman Ordumuza – "To our Heroic Army", in reference to the people's army that ultimately won the Turkish War of Independence, with lyrics that reflect on the sacrifices of the soldiers during the war.
It is regularly heard during state and military events, as well as during national festivals, bayrams, sporting events, and school ceremonies. Visual depictions can also be found adorning state or public displays, such as in the form of a scroll displaying the first two quatrains of the anthem on the reverse of the Turkish 100 lira banknotes of 1983–1989.
Of the ten-stanza anthem, only the first two quatrains are sung.
A framed version of the national anthem typically occupies the wall above the blackboard in the classrooms of Turkish schools, accompanied by a Turkish flag, a photograph of the country's founding savior Atatürk, and a copy of Atatürk's famous speech to the nation's youth from the concluding remarks to his 20 October 1927 address to the Parliament.
In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also adopted the Turkish national anthem under Article II of the Constitution of Northern Cyprus.
History
An example of a common classroom display in Turkey, including the national anthem at far right
The present-day anthem is a collective effort by several prominent poets, musicians, and composers that took form over several years due to the relatively tumultuous nature of the period in which it was crafted.
Even before the full official dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, a nationwide competition was organized in 1921 by the Turkish National Movement — an independent and self-organized militia force led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk waging a lengthy campaign for independence against both invading foreign powers and the Ottoman Court itself, due to the latter being treasonous and complicit in the partitioning of the Turkish homeland in the aftermath of the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres. The goal of the competition was to select an original composition suitable for a National March, intended to both motivate the militia forces fighting for independence across the country, and to provide inspiration and pride for a new homeland that would be established once victory was achieved.
A total of 724 poems were submitted. Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a well-known poet of the period, initially refused to participate due to a monetary prize being offered in the competition, but was subsequently contacted and convinced by the National Parliament to submit a poem and disregard the reward. The resulting ten-stanza-long poem written by Ersoy was recited to the National Assembly by representative Hamdullah Suphi, on 1 March 1921, where it was unanimously adopted by the deputies following evaluation by a parliamentary committee. The prize of the competition was later bestowed on a society of veterans.
Shortly thereafter, twenty-four composers participated in another competition arranged for the selection of a musical composition that would best suit the elected anthem. The committee, which was only able to convene in 1924 due to the 1919–1923 Turkish War of Independence, adopted the music composed by Ali Rıfat Çağatay.
This early composition by Çağatay lasted only six years. In 1930, a new composition by Osman Zeki Üngör, virtuoso composer and the first conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey, was adopted as a permanent musical arrangement by Parliament. Shortly thereafter, in 1932, eminent Turkish composer, conductor, and musicologist (of Armenian descent) Edgar Manas (Armenian: Էտկար Մանաս) was commissioned by the Turkish government to harmonize and orchestrate the melody created by Üngör, and the final and official version of the anthem took form.
Lyrics
The full lyrics of the Turkish national anthem consist of 41 lines of verses, with ten stanzas total, though only the first 8 lines (shown in bold) are performed in official ceremonies.
Ottoman Turkish |
Current lyrics in modern standard Turkish |
IPA transcription |
English translated version |
١
:قورقما، سونمهز بو شفقلرده یوزهن آل سانجاق
.سونمهدن یوردمك اوستنده توتهن اك صوك اوجاق
او بنم ملتمك ییلدیزیدر پارلایاجق؛
.او بنمدر. او بنم ملتمكدر آنجاق
٢
!چاتمه قربان اولایم چهرهكی، ای نازلی هلال
قهرمان عرقمه بر كول، نه بو شدت، بو جلال
سكا اولماز دوكولن قانلریمز صوكرا حلال؛
!حقیدر، حقه طاپان ملتمك، استقلال
٣
.بن ازلدن بریدر حر یاشادم، حر یاشارم
!هانكی چیلغین بكا زنجیر اورهجقمش، شاشارم
كوكرهمش سیل كبییم، بندیمی چیكنهر آشارم؛
.ییرتارم داغلری، انكینلره صیغمام، طاشارم
٤
غربك آفاقنی صارمشسه چلیك زرهلی دیوار
.بنم ایمان دولو كوكوسم كبی سرحدم وار
،اولوسون، قورقما، ناصل بویله بر ایمانی بوغار
"مدنیت" دیدیكك تك دیشی قالمش جانوار؟
٥
آرقاداش! یوردیمه آلچاقلری اوغراتما، صاقین
سپر ایت كوكدهكی، دورسون بو حیاسزجه آقین؛
دوغاجقدر سكا وعد ایتدیكی كونلر حقك؛
كیم بیلیر بلكه یارین، بلكه یاریندن ده یاقین
٦
:باصدیغك یرلری "طوپراق!" دییهرك كچمه طانی
!دوشون آلتندهكی بیكلرجه كفنسز یاتانی
:سن شهید اوغلیسك، اینجیتمه یازیقدر آتاكی
.ویرمه، دنیالری آلسهك ده بو جنت وطنی
٧
،كیم بو جنت وطنك اوغرینه اولماز كه فدا
!شهدا فیشقیراجق طوپراغی صیقسهك، شهدا
جانی، جانانی، بوتون واریمی آلسین ده خدا
.ایتمهسین تك وطنمدن بنی دنیاده جدا
٨
:روحمك سندن، الهی، شودر آنجاق املی
.دهكمهسون معبدمك كوكسنه نامحرم الی
– بو اذانلر – كه شهادتلری دینك تملی
.ابدی، یوردیمك اوستنده بنم ایكلهمهلی
٩
.او زمان وجد ایله بیك سجده ایدهر – وارسه – طاشم
،هر جریحهمدن، الهی، بوشانوب قانلی یاشم
فیشقیریر روح مجرد كبی یردن نعشم؛
!او زمان یوكسهلهرهك عرشه دکهر بلكه باشم
١٠
!دالغالان سن ده شفقلر كبی ای شانلی هلال
!اولسون آرتق دكولن قانلریمك هپسی حلال
!ابدیا سكا یوق، عرقمه یوق اضمحلال
حقیدر حر یاشامش بایراغمك حریت؛
!حقیدر حقه طاپان ملتمك استقلال
|
I
Korkma! Sönmez bu şafaklarda yüzen al sancak,
Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.
O benim milletimin yıldızıdır, parlayacak;
O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.
II
Çatma, kurban olayım, çehreni ey nazlı hilal!
Kahraman ırkıma bir gül; ne bu şiddet, bu celal?
Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarımız sonra helal...
Hakkıdır, Hakk’a tapan milletimin istiklal!
III
Ben ezelden beridir hür yaşadım, hür yaşarım,
Hangi çılgın bana zincir vuracakmış? Şaşarım!
Kükremiş sel gibiyim, bendimi çiğner, aşarım,
Yırtarım dağları, enginlere sığmam, taşarım.
IV
Garbın afakını sarmışsa çelik zırhlı duvar,
Benim iman dolu göğsüm gibi serhaddim var.
Ulusun, korkma! Nasıl böyle bir imanı boğar,
“Medeniyet” dediğin tek dişi kalmış canavar?
V
Arkadaş! Yurduma alçakları uğratma sakın,
Siper et gövdeni, dursun bu hayâsızca akın.
Doğacaktır sana vadettiği günler Hakk’ın,
Kim bilir, belki yarın belki yarından da yakın.
VI
Bastığın yerleri “toprak” diyerek geçme, tanı,
Düşün altındaki binlerce kefensiz yatanı.
Sen şehit oğlusun, incitme, yazıktır atanı,
Verme, dünyaları alsan da bu cennet vatanı.
VII
Kim bu cennet vatanın uğruna olmaz ki feda?
Şüheda fışkıracak, toprağı sıksan şüheda!
Canı, cananı, bütün varımı alsın da Hüda,
Etmesin tek vatanımdan beni dünyada cüda.
VIII
Ruhumun senden İlahî, şudur ancak emeli:
Değmesin mabedimin göğsüne namahrem eli.
Bu ezanlar, ki şehadetleri dinin temeli,
Ebedî, yurdumun üstünde benim inlemeli.
IX
O zaman vecd ile bin secde eder, varsa taşım,
Her cerihamdan, İlahî, boşanıp kanlı yaşım,
Fışkırır ruhumücerret gibi yerden naaşım,
O zaman yükselerek arşa değer belki başım.
X
Dalgalan sen de şafaklar gibi ey şanlı hilal!
Olsun artık dökülen kanlarımın hepsi helal.
Ebediyen sana yok, ırkıma yok izmihlal.
Hakkıdır, hür yaşamış bayrağımın hürriyet;
Hakkıdır, Hakk’a tapan milletimin istiklal!
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1
[ˈkʰo̞ɾk.mä ‖ s̪ø̞n̪.ˈmæz̪ bu ʃä.fäk.ɫ̪äɾ.ˈd̪ä jy.ˈz̪æn̪ ˈäɫ̪‿s̪än̪.ˌd͡ʒäk |]
[ˈs̪ø̞n̪.me̞.d̪æn̪ juɾ.d̪u.ˈmʊn̪ ys̪.t̪ʰyn̪.ˈd̪e̞ t̪ʰy.ˈt̪ʰæn̪ ˈe̞n̪‿s̪o̞n̪‿o̞.ˌd͡ʒäk ‖]
[o̞ be.ˈn̪ɪm mil̠.l̠e.t̪ʰi.ˈmɪn̪ jɯɫ̪.d̪ɯ.ˈz̪ɯ.d̪ɯɾ̞̊ | pʰäɾ.ɫ̪ä.jä.ˈd͡ʒäk |]
[o̞ be.ˈn̪im.d̪ɪɾ̞̊ | o̞ be.ˈn̪ɪm mil̠.l̠e.t̪ʰi.ˈmin̪.d̪ɪɾ‿än̪.ˈd͡ʒäk ‖]
2
[ˈt͡ʃät̪ʰ.mä | kʰuɾ.ˈbän̪ o̞.ɫ̪ä.ˈjɯm | t͡ʃe̞h.ɾe̞.ˈn̪ɪ e̞j n̪äz̪.ˈɫ̪ɯ hi.ˈläl ‖]
[kʰäh.ɾä.ˈmän̪ ɯɾ̞̊.ˈkʰɯ.mä biɾ‿ɟyl̠ | n̪e̞ bu ʃid̪.ˈd̪e̞t̪ | bu d͡ʒe̞.ˈläl ‖]
[s̪ä.ˈn̪ä o̞ɫ̪.ˈmäz̪ d̪ø̞.cʰy.ˈl̠æn̪ kʰän̪.ɫ̪ä.ɾɯ.ˈmɯz̪ ˈs̪o̞n̪.ɾä he̞.ˈläl ‖]
[häk.ˈkʰɯ.d̪ɯɾ̞̊ | häk.ˈkʰä t̪ʰä.ˈpʰän̪ mil̠.l̠e̞.t̪ʰi.ˈmɪn̪ is̪.t̪ʰic.ˈläl ‖]
3
[bæn̪ e̞.zæl.ˈd̪æn̪ be.ˈɾi.dɪɾ̞̊ hyɾ‿jä.ʃä.ˈd̪ɯm | hyɾ‿jä.ʃä.ˈɾɯm |]
[ˈhäɲ.ɟɪ t͡ʃɯɫ̪.ˈgɯn̪ bä.ˈn̪ä zin.ˈd͡ʒɪɾ‿vu.ɾä.d͡ʒäk.ˈmɯʃ ‖ ʃä.ˈʃä.ɾɯm ‖]
[cʰyc.ɾe.ˈmɪʃ s̪æl̠ ɟi.bi.ˈjɪm | ˈbæn̪.d̪i.mɪ t͡ʃiː.ˈn̪æɾ | ä.ʃä.ˈɾɯm |]
[jɯɾ.ˈt̪ʰä.ɾɯm d̪äː.ɫ̪ä.ˈɾɯ | e̞ɲ.ɟin̪.l̠e̞.ˈɾe̞ s̪ɯː.ˈmäm | t̪ʰä.ˈʃä.ɾɯm ‖]
4
[gäɾ.ˈbɯn̪ äː.fäː.kʰɯ.ˈn̪ɯ s̪äɾ.ˈmɯʃ.s̪ä t͡ʃe.ˈl̠ɪc z̪ɯɾh.ˈɫ̪ɯ d̪u.ˈväɾ̞̊ |]
[be.ˈn̪ɪm iː.ˈmän̪ d̪o̞.ˈɫ̪ʊ gø̞ː.ˈs̪ʏm ɟi.ˈbɪ s̪æɾ.häd̪.ˈd̪im väɾ̞̊ ‖]
[u.ɫ̪u.ˈs̪ʊn̪ | ˈkʰo̞ɾk.mä ‖ ˈn̪ä.s̪ɯɫ̪ ˈbø̞j.l̠e biɾ‿iː.mä.ˈn̪ɯ bo̞.ˈäɾ̞̊ |]
[me.d̪e.ni.ˈje̞t̪ d̪e.d̪i.ˈɪn̪ t̪ʰe̞c d̪i.ˈʃɪ kʰäɫ̪.ˈmɯʃ d͡ʒä.n̪ä.ˈväɾ̞̊ ‖]
5
[äɾ.kʰä.ˈd̪äʃ ‖ juɾ.ˈd̪u.mä äɫ̪.t͡ʃäk.ɫ̪ä.ˈɾɯ uː.ˈɾät̪.mä s̪ä.ˈkʰɯn̪ |]
[s̪i.ˈpʰæɾ‿æt̪ gø̞v.d̪e.ˈn̪ɪ | d̪uɾ.ˈs̪ʊn̪ bu hä.jäː.ˈs̪ɯz̪.d͡ʒä ä.ˈkʰɯn̪ ‖]
[d̪o̞.ä.ˈd͡ʒäk.t̪ʰɯɾ̞̊ s̪ä.ˈn̪ä vä.d̪e̞t̪.t̪ʰi.ˈɪ ɟyn̪.ˈl̠æɾ̞̊ häk.ˈkʰɯn̪ |]
[cʰim bi.ˈl̠ɪɾ̞̊ | ˈbæl̠.cʰɪ jä.ˈɾɯn̪ ˈbæl̠.cʰɪ jä.ɾɯn̪.ˈd̪än̪ d̪ä jä.ˈkʰɯn̪ ‖]
6
[bäs̪.t̪ʰɯ.ˈɯn̪ jæɾ.l̠e̞.ˈɾɪ t̪ʰo̞p.ˈɾäk d̪i.je̞.ˈɾe̞c ˈɟe̞t͡ʃ.me̞ | t̪ʰä.ˈn̪ɯ |]
[d̪y.ˈʃʏn̪ äɫ̪.t̪ʰɯn̪.ˈd̪ä.cʰɪ bin̪.ˈl̠æɾ.d͡ʒe̞ cʰe̞.fæn̪.ˈs̪ɪz̪ jä.t̪ʰä.ˈn̪ɯ ‖]
[s̪æn̪ ʃe.ˈhit̪ o̞ː.ɫ̪u.ˈs̪ʊn̪ | in.ˈd͡ʒit̪.me̞ | jä.ˈz̪ɯk.tʰɯɾ‿ä.t̪ʰä.ˈn̪ɯ |
[ˈvæɾ.me̞ | d̪yn.jä.ɫ̪ä.ˈɾɯ äɫ̪.ˈs̪än̪ d̪ä bu d͡ʒe̞n̪.ˈn̪e̞t̪ vä.t̪ʰä.ˈnɯ ‖]
7
[cʰim bu d͡ʒe̞n̪.ˈn̪e̞t̪ vä.t̪ʰä.ˈn̪ɯn̪ uː.ɾu.ˈn̪ä o̞ɫ̪.ˈmäz̪ cʰi fe̞.ˈd̪ä ‖]
[ʃy.he̞.ˈd̪ä fɯʃ.kʰɯ.ɾä.ˈd͡ʒäk | t̪ʰo̞p.ɾä.ˈɯ s̪ɯk.ˈs̪än̪ ʃy.he̞.ˈd̪ä ‖]
[d͡ʒäː.ˈn̪ɯ | d͡ʒäː.n̪äː.ˈn̪ɯ | by.ˈt̪ʰʏn̪ vä.ɾɯ.ˈmɯ äɫ̪.ˈs̪ɯn̪ d̪ä hy.ˈd̪ä |]
[ˈe̞t̪.me̞.s̪ɪn̪ t̪ʰe̞c vä.t̪ʰä.n̪ɯm.ˈd̪än̪ be.ˈn̪ɪ d̪yn̪.jä.ˈd̪ä d͡ʒy.ˈd̪ä ‖]
8
[ɾ̞u.hu.ˈmʊn̪ s̪æn̪.ˈd̪æn̪ i.läː.ˈhɪː | ˈʃu.d̪ʊɾ‿än̪.ˈd͡ʒäk e.me.ˈl̠ɪ ‖]
[ˈd̪e(j).e.me.s̪ɪn̪ mä.be.d̪i.ˈmɪn̪ gø̞ː.s̪y.ˈn̪e̞ n̪äː.mäh.ˈɾe̞m e.ˈl̠ɪ ‖]
[bu e̞.z̪än̪.ˈɫ̪äɾ̞̊ | cʰi ʃe.hä.d̪et̪.l̠e.ˈɾɪ d̪i.ˈn̪ɪn̪ t̪ʰe.me.ˈl̠ɪ |]
[e.be.ˈd̪ɪː | juɾ.d̪u.ˈmʊn̪ ys̪.t̪ʰyn̪.ˈd̪e̞ be.ˈn̪ɪm in̪.l̠e.me.ˈl̠ɪ ‖]
9
[o̞ z̪ä.ˈmän̪ ve̞d͡ʒd i.ˈl̠e̞ bin̪ s̪e̞d͡ʒ.ˈd̪e̞ e.ˈd̪æɾ | ˈväɾ.s̪ä t̪ʰä.ˈʃɯm |]
[hæɾ‿d͡ʒe.ɾiː.häm.ˈd̪än̪ | i.läː.ˈhɪː | bo̞.ʃä.ˈn̪ɯp kʰän̪.ˈɫ̪ɯ jä.ˈʃɯm |]
[fɯʃ.kʰɯ.ˈɾɯɾ ɾu.hu.my.d͡ʒe̞ɾ̞.ˈɾ̞e̞t̪ ɟi.ˈbɪ jæɾ.ˈd̪æn̪ nä.ä.ˈʃɯm |]
[o̞ z̪ä.ˈmän̪ jyc.s̪e̞.ˈl̠e̞.ɾe̞c äɾ.ˈʃä d̪æ.ˈæɾ‿ˈbæl̠.cʰɪ bä.ˈʃɯm ‖]
10
[d̪äɫ̪.gä.ˈɫ̪än̪ s̪æn̪ d̪e ʃä.fäk.ˈɫ̪äɾ ɟi.ˈbɪ e̞j ʃän̪.ˈɫ̪ɯ hi.ˈläl ‖]
[o̞ɫ̪.ˈs̪ʊn̪ äɾ.ˈt̪ʰɯk dø̞.cʰy.ˈl̠æn̪ kʰän̪.ɫ̪ä.ɾɯ.ˈmɯn̪ ˈhe̞p.s̪ɪ he̞.ˈläl ‖]
[e.be.ˈd̪i.jæn̪ s̪ä.ˈn̪ä jo̞k | ɯɾ.ˈkʰɯ.mä jo̞k iz̪.mih.ˈläl ‖]
[häk.ˈkʰɯ.d̪ɯɾ̞̊ | hyɾ‿jä.ˈʃä.mɯʃ bäj.ɾä.ɯ.ˈmɯn̪ hyɾ̞.ɾ̞i.ˈje̞t̪ ‖]
[häk.ˈkʰɯ.d̪ɯɾ̞̊ | häk.ˈkʰä t̪ʰä.ˈpʰän̪ mil̠.l̠e̞.t̪ʰi.ˈmɪn̪ is̪.t̪ʰic.ˈläl ‖]
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I
Fear not! The red banner that ripples in this dawn, shall fade not,
Before the last hearth that is ablaze within my homeland is extinguished.
It is the star of my people, which shall shine;
It is mine; only it belongs to my people.
II
Frown not, I beseech you, oh you coy crescent!
Smile upon my heroic nation once! What is this violence, what for is this rage?
Or our blood which we shed for you shall not be worthy afterwards…
Freedom is the right of my God-worshipping nation.
III
Since the beginning I have lived free, I live in freedom,
What madman shall fetter me? I would be surprised.
Like a roaring flood I am, I would trample my banks, I would exceed,
I shall tear mountains apart, exceed the Expanses and overflow.
IV
If the steel armored wall surrounds the horizons of the West,
I have a borderline like my faithful chest.
You are mighty, fear not! How can this faith be drowned,
By the single toothed beast they call "civilization"?
V
Comrade! Do not ever let ignobles visit our homeland,
Shield your chest, this disgraceful offense shall be stopped.
The days promised to you by God shall arise,
Who knows, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps even sooner than tomorrow.
VI
View not the soil you tread on as mere Earth – recognize it!
And think about the shroudless thousands who lie so nobly beneath you.
You are the glorious son of a martyr – take shame, grieve not your ancestors!
Unhand not, even when you are promised worlds, this heavenly homeland.
VII
Who would not sacrifice their life for this paradise of a country?
Martyrs would burst forth should one simply squeeze the soil! Martyrs!
May God take my life, my loved ones, and all possessions from me if He wills,
But let Him not deprive me of my one true homeland in the world.
VIII
Oh glorious God, the sole wish of my pain-stricken heart is that,
No heathen's hand should ever touch the bosom of my sacred Temples.
These adhans and their testimonies are the foundations of my religion,
And may their noble sound prevail thunderously across my eternal homeland.
IX
For only then, shall my fatigued tombstone, if there is one, prostrate a thousand times in ecstasy,
And tears of blood shall, oh Lord, spill out from my every wound,
And my lifeless body shall burst forth from the earth like an eternal spirit,
Perhaps only then, shall I peacefully ascend and at long last reach the heavens.
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So ripple and wave like the bright dawning sky, oh you glorious crescent,
So that our every last drop of blood may finally be blessed and worthy!
Neither you nor my kin shall ever be extinguished!
For freedom is the absolute right of my ever-free flag;
For independence is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation!
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Footnotes:
See also
In Spanish: İstiklâl Marşı para niños