Marsala

A light wine exported from Marsala in Sicily. This name was bestowed upon the town by the Arabs, Marsa Alla , “Port of God,” on account of its delightful situation. Marseillaise. This was the composition of Rouget de Lisle, an artillery officer stationed with the French garrison at Strasburg. First sung at a banquet given by the mayor of that city, it became immensely popular; and when in 1792 the Marseilles volunteers were summoned to Paris, they sang it as they approached and entered the capital. The words and music at once struck the popular ear, so that “La Marseillaise” became the national war song.