Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser

"Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" also called the "Kaiserhymne", is an anthem composed in 1797 by Joseph Haydn. In its original version it was paired with lyrics by Lorenz Leopold Haschka and served as a patriotic song, expressing devotion to Francis II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

In later times, Haydn's tune came to be widely employed in other contexts, often paired with new lyrics. These later versions include works of classical music, Christian hymns, alma maters, and the national anthem of Germany.