The Anthem Philatelist

The national anthem of Andorra "El Gran Carelmany" (The Great Charlemagne) presents the nation's history in a first-person narrative. Charlemagne , King of the Franks and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, 742 - 814, was born on April 2, 742 in Northern Europe. Charles was the eldest son of Pippin III and Bertrada of Laon. ‘By the sword and the cross,’ Charlemagne became master of Western Europe.    In 768, when Charlemagne was 26, he and his younger brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of the Franks. In 771 Carloman died, and Charlemagne became sole ruler of the kingdom. At that time the Franks were falling back into barbarian ways, neglecting their education and religion. The Saxons of northern Europe were still pagans. In the south, the Roman Catholic church was asserting its power to recover land confiscated by the Lombard kingdom of Italy. Europe was in turmoil.   Charlemagne was determined to strengthen his realm and to bring order to Europe. In 772 he launche...

The national anthem of Andorra, "El Gran Carelmany" (The Great Charlemagne) presents the nation's history in a first-person narrative. The anthem was officially adopted on September 8, 1914, the anniversary date of the feast of the Maiden of Meritxell, the patron saint of Andorra. The music was composed by Enric Marfany Bons and lyrics by Joan Benlloch i Vivó . Joan Baptista Benlloch i Vivó (29 December 1864 – 14 February 1926) was a Valencian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Burgos from 1919 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1921. Born in Valencia, Joan Benlloch i Vivó studied at its seminary, and obtained his doctorate in theology and in canon law in October 1887. He was ordained to the priesthood on 25 February 1888, and then served as an auxiliary professor at the Valenica seminary and coadjutor in Almàssera, teaching humanities and metaphysics. From 1893 to 1898, Benlloch was pastor of the parish of Santos Jua...