1801

S.V.Breuning arrives in Vienna. Letters to Wegeler & Amenda expressing concern over deafness. Death of Elector Max Franz.

1802

'Heiligenstadt Testament' - (letter addressed to his brothers in which Beethoven reveals his despair over his increasing deafness).

1803

Archduke Rudolph becomes a friend and pupil. 'Eroica' symphony begun at Heiligenstadt.

1804

Living with S.Breuning (May-Oct), but moves to Molkerbastei after row with Breuning. Beethoven scratches out dedication of 'Eroica' symphony to Napoleon, after Napoleon declares himself Emperor.

1805

Intimate friendship with Josephine von Deym (neé.Brunswick) - cooling off towards November. Work on 'Fidelio'. - French invade Vienna (13-27Nov).

1806

Caspar Beethoven marries Johanna Reiss; their son Karl is born (4 Sep).

1808

Haydn's last public concert (27Mar). Friendship with Countess Erdody. Offer to go to Kassel under Jerome Bonaparte - (600 Ducats p.a). Beethoven accepts but later changes mind due to friends guaranteeing annual income. Razumovsky quartet formed.

1809

–

1810

Contract: Kinsky, Archduke Rudolph, Lobkowitz - guaranteeing income of 4000 Florins p.a. for life. Vienna shelled by French (11/12May). Haydn dies.

1810 - Affair with Therese Von Malfatti. Friendship with Bettina Brentano.

1811

–

1812

Devaluation of currency (20 Feb) causes financial difficulties. Friendship with Amalie Sebald

Meeting with Goethe at Teplitz (July 1812). Letter to "Immortal beloved". Life mask and bust of Beethoven by Klein. Tries to stop marriage of brother Johann at Linz to Therese Obermayr.

1813

–

1814

Wellington wins battle of Vittoria (21Jun). Collaboration with Maezel - "Wellington's victory" spreads Beethoven's fame and success. (Legal dispute with Maezel over this work later followed).

Razumovsky palace destroyed in fire (3Nov 1814). 'Fidelio' revised. Financial position improves. Congress of Vienna grants Beethoven 4000 Florins. Highly Succesful concerts and recognition .

1815

–

1816

Financial matters in connection with contract settled. (Arrears paid-payments continue until Beethoven's death). Caspar Beethoven dies (15Nov) - Beethoven is made co-guardian of Karl along with Karl's mother. Given freedom of the city of Vienna.

Start of legal proceedings for sole-guardianship of Karl. Karl sent to boarding school. Invitation to visit London. Death of Prince Lobkowitz (16Dec 1816).

1817

Friendship with Nanette Streicher renewed (She helps domestically)

1818

More legal proceedings over Karl, as he runs away from school to his mother. London firm of Broadwood send Beethoven a piano.

1819

–

1822

"Missa solemnis" begun. Karl under mother's guardianship; Beethoven still responsible for his education. Beethoven purchases 8 bank shares from the investments made in 1816 with Steiner as a legacy for Karl. 1820 - Legal dispute over Karl finally settled in Beethoven's favour.

1822 - Schuppanzigh returns to Vienna. Deepening of friendship with F.Grillparzer. 'Fidelio' revival. New operatic projects contemplated ("Mesuline"). Work on 'Choral' symphony & last quartets. Reconciliation with brother Johann (temporary). Anton Schindler assists Beethoven as friend and secretary (they had briefly met in 1814).

1823

Karl leaves school. Trouble with eyes. Quarrels with Schindler.

1824

Beethoven is sent inscribed gold medal from Louis XV111. Helps Karl's mother financially. Serious row with Schindler, Schuppanzigh & M.Lichnowsky over the financial disaster of the first performance of the 'Choral' symphony. Receives piano from the firm Konrad Graf. Meets his old teacher Schenk ( who he hasn't seen since 1790's).

1825

Friendship with Karl Holz. Becoming more possesive and neurotic over Karl.

1826

Karl attempts suicide (30Jul): Beethoven devastated. Goes with Karl to his brother's estate at Gneixendorf (Aug). On return to Vienna (1/2Dec) he catches a chill and is confined to bed. Start of final illness - First operation (20Dec).

1827

Karl joins army (2nd Jan). Reconciliation with Schindler. Has further 4 operations. Visited by Schubert, Hummel, Zmeskall. Philharmonic society in London send £100. Reconciliation with Dr.Malfatti. Makes will leaving all to Karl. Dies (26th Mar-4.45p.m.) 28th Mar: Autopsy performed by Dr.Johann Wagner. Petrous portion of the temporal bone was sawn through and removed. Cause of death Cirrhosis of the liver accompanied by dropsy. Death mask and drawing made by Dannhauser. 29Mar: 20,000 people gather outside the 'Schwarzpanierhaus' for the funeral (3.00.p.m). Procession leaves the Schwarzspanierhaus at 3.30p.m. Hearse drawn by 4 horses. 5.00p.m.-Church service at the Dreifalteskeitkirche. Taken to the Wahring cemetry, where at the gates Grillparzer's funeral oration was read by Anschutz. 3rd April 1827 - Mozart's Requiem sung at the parish church of the Augustinian monks. 5th April 1827 - Cherubini's Mass sung in the Karlskirche. April 1827 - Auction of Beethoven's belongings.

Beethoven Reference Site  © 2010

Concert tour with Prince Lichnowsky to Prague, Dresden, Berlin. Possible first signs of deafness.

1797

Increased friends amongst the aristocracy (Scharwzenberg, Liechenstein, Moritz, Odescalshi). Signs of deafness apparent.

1798

Freundschaft mit Karl Amenda. Beginn der Schwerhörigkeit. „Pathétique“. Pläne zur ersten Symphonie.

1799

Amenda verlässt Wien. Anfälle von Depression.

1800

Piano contest with D.Steibelt at Count Fries. Lichnowsky grants an annuity of 600 Gulden p.a.

VIENNA  (1792 – 1827)

1792

1793

(Jul) Haydn in Bonn again (return journey). Beethoven leaves Bonn (2Nov). Arrives in Vienna (10Nov) - Waldstein played a major role in the arrangement of this trip. (He persuaded Elector to grant Beethoven an annuity). Father dies (18Dec) - Franz Ries acts on Beethoven's behalf in Bonn regarding payment of salary.Lessons with Haydn. Beethoven may have visited Eisenstadt with Haydn. Haydn helps Beethoven in financial matters. Lessons with Haydn end and Beethoven studies with J.B.Schenk.

1794

Bonn occupied by the French. (Elector flees). Haydn visits England again. Beethoven studies counterpoint with Albrechtsberger & vocal writing with Salieri. Beethoven's brother Caspar, arrives in Vienna. (He tried at first to emulate Ludwig's success, but later became a banker). Wegeler arrives from Bonn.

1795

Beethoven's other brother, Johann arrived to study at the university.

1796

1783

Violist in court orchestra. 3 Sonatas published (dedicated to Elector Maximillian Friedrich).

1784

(Feb) - Officially Neefe's assistant. Death of Elector (15Apr) - succeeded by M.Franz (son of Empress Maria-Theresa).

Granted salary of 100 Florins.

1787

(7-20Apr) - First visit to Vienna. Meeting with Mozart. Mother dies (17Jul) - (consumption). Baby sister dies (25Nov).

1788

1789

Returns to old posts (organist & viola in court orchestra). Death of Emperor Joseph. Meets Waldstein family.

1790

(Dec) - Haydn & Salomon arrive in Bonn (en route to London).

1791

(Dec 5) - Death of Mozart.

1767

Johann van Beethoven married Maria Magdalena Leym (nee Keverich).  From her first marriage she bore one son (died in infancy) and seven from her second marriage of whom 4 died in infancy.

BONN (1770 – 1792)

1770

16th Dec - Beethoven born at 515 Bonngasse (no.20 today). Baptised at St.Regimus church (17 Dec).

1773

24th Dec - Death of grandfather (Ludwig Van Beethoven).

1774

Caspar Karl Van Beethoven (brother) born 8th April.  

1776

 Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven (brother) born 2nd October.

1778

26th March - First public concert 'academy' at Cologne (Sternengasse).

1781

Visits Rotterdam with his mother.

1782

Becomes deputy court organist to Neefe. First published work - 9 variations on a march by Dressler. Beginning of friendship with G.Wegeler & Breuning family. 

1785