Zdravlijca

poem by France Prešeren

"Zdravljica" (say: zdrou-LEE-tsə) is a 19th-century carmen figuratum poem written by poet France Prešeren in 1844. The national anthem of Slovenia is based on it.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The poem

France was inspired by the French motto Liberté, égalité, fraternité. When his poem was first published, it used to be called "Zdravica". This was during the Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire, as Slovenes wanted their country be united, with which the poet himself agreed. Only the seventh verse was chosen to become part of the country's national anthem.[9][2]

References