Les Brigands du Roi Louis XVII

Folk Songs

Les Brigands du Roi Louis XVII
French Counter-Revolutionary Song
Les Brigands du Roi Louis XVII [The Brigands of King Louis XVII] is a marching song of the soldiers of the Vendée. As France heaved under the throws of the Revolution, brave men of the Vendée rose up in defense of the Catholic faith and monarchy.

King Louis XVI was beheaded as his young son, the rightful heir of the throne, was dying in prison. Refusing to acknowledge the Revolutionary government, the Vendean army sang out boldly calling for the restoration of Louis XVII to the throne. Its symbol was the white fleur-de-lis flag of the French Kings. In response the National Convention ordered a war of extermination to kill every man, woman and child in the Vendée.

In an attempt to demonize the counter-revolutionaries, the National Convention called the Vendean resisters “brigands” (bandits), but the label instead was taken up by its army with pride. If fighting for the defense of God, King, home and tradition meant being an outlaw, then they would gladly assume the title of “brigands of the King.”

Les Brigands du Roi Louis XVII is here sung by the Choeur Montjoie Saint Denis.

Listen to Les Brigands du Roi louis XVII

French Lyrics:

La Convention à tué le Roi,
Et l'impie à tué Dieu aussi.
A présent, elle veut nos enfants,
Pour sa guerre scélérate,
Pour sa guerre scélérate.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,

Les bleus tuent nos femmes, nos enfants,
Ils assassinent nos prêtres aussi.
Ils avancent dans notre pays,
Ils arrachent notre drapeau blanc,
Ils arrachent notre drapeau blanc.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,

Arrivent les Bleus, les assassins,
Tous les voyous républicains.
En avant derrière M'sieur Henri,
Henri de La Rochejaquelein,
Henri de La Rochejaquelein.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,

Debout les gars, sonne le tocsin,
Que tournent les ailes des moulins.
Les seigneurs et les paysans,
Sus à l'ennemi, aux armes,
Sus à l'ennemi, aux armes.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,

Cavaliers, les sabres pointez,
Paysans, la fourche en avant.
Par Saint Michel, les gars, foncez,
Votre cœur à Marie, mes enfants,
Votre cœur à Marie, mes enfants.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,

Pour Dieu, le Roi et la victoire,
Sus à l'enn'mi, c'est l'hallali.
O Crux ave spes unica,
Allons les gars, allons boire.
Allons les gars, allons boire.

C'est nous les brigands, les Vendéens,
Les brigands du Roi,
Du petit Roi Louis, ohé,
Du petit Roi Louis XVII.

English translation:

The Convention has killed the King,
The impious ones have also killed God.
Now it wants our children,
For its criminal war,
For its criminal war.

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis, ohé.

The blue ones kill our women, our children,
They also assassinate our priests.
They advance into our region,
They tear down our white flag,
They tear down our white flag.

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis, ohé.

The blue ones arrive, the assassins,
With all the Republican thugs.
Onward, let's follow M'sieur Henri,
Henri de La Rochejaquelein,
Henri de La Rochejaquelein.

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis, ohé.

Stand up, men, sound the alarm,
Let the wings of the mills turn.
Lords and peasants,
Down with the enemy, to arms.
Down with the enemy, to arms.

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis, ohé.

Knights, point your swords,
In position, peasants, with your pitchforks
By Saint Michael, attack men,
With your hearts turned to Mary, my friends,
With your hearts turned to Mary, my friends,

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis, ohé.

For God, the King and the victory,
Down with the enemy, it is the final attack.
Hail, o Cross, our only hope.
Come men, let's drink to that.
Come men, let's drink to that.

We are the brigands, the Vendeans,
The brigands of the King,
Of little King Louis, ohé,
Of little King Louis XVII.