Zu Mantua in Banden

The Landtag assembly of the Italian South Tyrol province on 29 October 2004 by majority has rejected its adoption about the Italian-speaking community.

The song deals with the death of Andreas Hofer, an innkeeper by trade, who was the leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against the French and Bavarian occupation during the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809.

Betrayed and captured, he was executed by the personal command of Napoleon at Mantua in Italy on 20 February 1810 by the French forces.

Nevertheless, having official status as a regional anthem since 1948, it has been forbidden by law since 1972 with a fine of up to 2000 € possibly imposed, to sing parody versions of the song or to alter the lyrics otherwise in a way that might be insulting to the Tyrolean population.

However, a popular socialist song, Dem Morgenrot entgegen [de], is written to the melody of the Tyrolean anthem.

Es blutete der Brüder Herz, Ganz Deutschland, ach, in Schmach und Schmerz.

So wie ich steh' auf dieser Schanz', Es leb' mein guter Kaiser Franz, Mit ihm sein Land Tirol!

Und von der Hand die Binde Nimmt ihm der Korporal; Und Sandwirt Hofer betet Allhier zum letzten Mal; Dann ruft er: "Nun, so trefft mich recht!

And from his arm the armband takes off the corporal; and the innkeeper prays here for one last time; then he shouts out loud: "Now hit me right, fire well!