Francesco Ignazio Mannu

is the author of one of the most fortunate poetic compositions in the Sardinian language over the centuries: 'S'Innu de su patriotu sardu a sos feudatarios', better known with his first verse 'Procurade 'e moderate'.
Despite the significant popular popularity that the text (even in the sung version) has had and still has, the origin of the hymn Procurade 'e moderare is cultured and is set in the revolutionary atmosphere of the end of the century. Mannu himself is certainly not an exponent of the lower people, quite the contrary. He was born in 1758 in Ozieri and died in 1839 in Cagliari. He was a knight, that is, an exponent of the petty nobility, and a magistrate. He joined the insurrectionary movements of the end of the century and, in particular, to the anti-feudal revolt whose innovative traits from a social point of view and the strenuous patriotic defense of Sardinia from greedy feudal lords and foreign landlords. On the meter best known to the people, that of the “gosi” or religious lauds, he published the anthem that would make him famous in Corsica in 1794. These are 47 stanzas of eight octonary verses. He is a supervised Logudorese who seeks a compromise between aulicity and the need to address the people. The language is quite rich in lexical contributions of various kinds. In particular, given the political theme, a good dose of Latinism, Spanish and legal-political Italianism flows into it. In the final part of his life, Mannu seems to regret his outrageous positions and falls into the ranks of a more moderate political position. His anthem, however, is a milestone for any Sardinian patriot and revolutionary.

Update

10/3/2025 - 12:00