BONN’S MOST FAMOUS SON
The Münsterplatz in Bonn, Germany,
is the site for the city’s monument to
Beethoven. Bonn’s new university,
where the young composer
briefly enrolled, was fertile ground
for Enlightenment ideas about
democracy and equality.1805
The Third Symphony is
premiered in Vienna. Despite
an initial, tepid response, it
will be hailed as a seminal
moment in musical history.1798
Beethoven begins to lose his
hearing. In Egypt Napoleon
is victorious on land at the
Battle of the Pyramids but
defeated at sea by Nelson.
1802
Beethoven begins working
on the Third Symphony. He
dedicates it to Napoleon,
who appoints himself
consul for life in August.1804
Napoleon crowns himself
emperor. Disgusted by the
news, Beethoven strikes
his name from the Third
Symphony.STEFAN ZIESE/AGE FOTOSTOCK