Hakkapeliittain Marssi

Hakkapeliittain marssi ("March of the Hakkapeliittas") or Finska Rytteriets Marsch in Swedish ("March of the Finnish Cavalry"), also known as Suomalaisen ratsuväen marssi 30-vuotisessa sodassa or Finska rytteriets marsch i trettioåriga kriget ("March of the Finnish cavalry in 30 years war") is one of the Finnish and Swedish cavalry's battle marches and one of the oldest currently played. It originates from the times of Thirty Years' War when Finnish cavalrymen were known as hakkapeliitta and it became popular with military bands. It was given lyrics (in Swedish) in 1872 by Zacharias Topelius and is commonly known as the "March of the Finnish Cavalry during the Thirty Years War". The Prussian army officially adopted it for use in 1891; it is now a standard of the German marching band repertoire.

The march is the official regimental march of the Swedish 19th infantry regiment, I 19. The Swedish cavalry regiment "K1" (now part of the Life Guards) also claimed the march as "theirs" because of their heritage from the Finnish cavalry in the late 18th century.

The Finnish composer Uuno Klami developed a free orchestral version of this theme under the title "Suomalaisen ratsuväen marssi" ("March of the Finnish Cavalry" op. 28) in 1939. The Finnish poet Eino Leino published another "Hakkapeliittain Marssi" as part of a collection by the name of Tähtitarha ("Garden of stars") in 1912.

Names of the song in different languages:
 * Suomalaisen ratsuväen marssi 30-vuotisessa sodassa
 * Finska Rytteriets Marsch i trettioåriga kriget (see Swedish Wikipedia article)
 * Marsch der Finnländischen Reiterei im 30-jährigen Kriege or Schwedischer Reitermarsch ("Swedish Cavalry March")

Finnish lyrics

 * On Pohjolan hangissa meill' isänmaa
 * sen rannalla loimuta lietemme saa
 * käs' säilöjä käyttäiss' on varttunut siell'
 * on kunnialle, uskolle hehkunut miel'


 * Kun ratsujamme Nevan vuossa uitettihin
 * kuin häihin se ui yli Veikselinkin;
 * Ja kalpamme kostavan Reinille toi
 * ja Tonavasta Keisarin maljan se joi!

Alternative lyrics


 * On pohjolan hangissa maa isien
 * saa loimuta lietemme rannoilla sen
 * me kasvoimme kalpaan mi mainetta suo
 * ja uskon huomisen kun sä luontoomme luot


 * Ja ratsuamme Nevan vuossa juotettihin
 * se uljaasti ui yli Leipz-Erikin!
 * Se kalpamme Reinin rannalle toi
 * ja Tonavasta Keisarin maljan se joi!


 * Yli rovion tuhkan kun karautamme
 * tuli kipunoi kavioista ratsujemme!
 * Ja missä nämä säilämme säihkyy ja lyö
 * siel vapaus on kallistunut ja väistyköön!

Original Swedish lyrics

 * Den snöiga nord är vårt fädernesland,
 * där sprakar vår härd på den stormiga strand,
 * där växte vid svärdet vår seniga arm,
 * där glödde för tro och för ära vår barm.


 * Vi vattnade i Nevans bad vår frustande häst
 * han sam över Weichseln så glad som till fest,
 * han bar över Rhen vårt hämnande stål,
 * han drack utur Donau kejsarens skål.


 * Och rida vi fram över aska och grus,
 * så springa ur hofvarna gnistor av ljus,
 * så blinkar vart hugg som en strimma sol,
 * och frihet går ut från den ljungande pol.


 * Var tröst, du som suckar i mörker och band!
 * Vi komma, vi komma, vi lösa din hand.
 * Där pustar ej träl i vår frostiga nord;
 * friborne vi rida i fält för Guds ord.


 * Vid Breitenfeld vi togo Pappenheim i vår famn;
 * vi skrefvo på Kronenbergs brynja vårt namn;
 * vi svedde grått skägg för Tilly vid Lech;
 * vi blödde med kungsblod vid Lützens häck.


 * Och rida vi långt från vårt nordliga spår,
 * till glödande druvor och blödande sår,
 * så smattra trumpeterna segerbud.
 * Hugg in, tappra led! Fram! Med oss är Gud.

Literal English translation

 * The snowy north is our fatherland;
 * there our hearth crackles on the stormy beach.
 * There our sinewy arm grew by the sword,
 * there our chest burned with faith and honour.


 * We watered our snorting horse in the Neva's bath;
 * he swam across the Vistula as happy as to a feast,
 * he carried our avenging steel over the Rhine,
 * he drank the emperor's toast from the Danube.


 * And if we ride forth over ash and gravel,
 * from the hoofs spring sparks of light,
 * each cut glimmers like a ray of sun
 * and freedom proceeds from the thundering Pole.


 * Take heart, you who dwell in darkness and chains!
 * We’re coming, we’re coming, we will free your hand.
 * Slaves do not sigh in our frosty North;
 * freeborn we ride into the field for God’s word.


 * At Breitenfeld we took Pappenheim into our arms;
 * we wrote on Kronenberg’s armour our name;
 * we burnt Tilly’s beard grey at Lech;
 * we bled with our King’s blood at Lützen’s hedge.


 * And if we ride far from our northern track,
 * to glowing grapes and bleeding wounds,
 * then the trumpets call the message of our victory.
 * Cut them down, brave ranks! Forward! With us is God.

Poetic English translation
Source:


 * Our homeland lies in the snows of the North;
 * the hearth of the home glowing warm and strong
 * Our hand has grown sure with playing the sword
 * and honour and pure faith lies in our record


 * At the river Neva our mounts did draw their first blood
 * like in a wedding march they went across the Vistula flood
 * Our swords they did bring to the Rhineland's coast
 * and by the Danube they raised up the Emperor's toast!