The German national anthem, known as "Deutschlandlied" or "Das Lied der Deutschen," has lyrics written by the poet August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. The melody was composed earlier, in 1797, by Austrian composer Joseph Haydn. The tune was originally created for the anthem "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" ("God preserve Emperor Francis") in honor of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the lyrics as a call for German unity, justice, and freedom during a time when Germany was divided into many small states.