Srpska
"Boze Pravde" (God of Justice)

Words by: Jorvan Djordjevic
Music by: Davorin Jenko
Adopted: 1992

The Republica Srpska (Srpska Republic or Serb Republic, usually referred to by the former name to avoid confusion with Serbia) is one of two political entities in Bosnia Hercegovina. Comprised of the primarily Serb parts of the northern and eastern areas of the country, it first declared independence in 1992 as Bosnia's independence war was starting. Under the peace agreement, it became a part of Bosnia.

The anthem chosen for the area was naturally the Serb one, but with an interesting difference, the lyrics (zip file) used were the former ones referring to the Serbian monarchy (which was long-since deposed), although not to any specific Serbian monarch; as such there is a difference of just a few words between the two anthems. (This might have been done to distinguish this entity from Serbia.) In 2007, however, it was decreed that the lyrics were considered "exclusionary", first the parliament of the Republic of Srpska voted to retain "Boze Pravde" as the anthem, but without lyrics, and when that was not approved either, a new anthem was adopted in 2008, "Moja republika".

Special thanks to: Avril Leach for informing me of this anthem, Keith Lehwald for some of this information, and to Pavel Zinovatny for the music file and sheet music.

See also: Serbia, Bosnia and Hercegovina.