Born on the 17^th of December, 1770, Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He composed many songs, influenced music for centuries, and is revered by hardcore musicians even to this day. As far as western music goes, Beethoven is one of the most admired icons, earning himself a god-like status thanks to his amazing piano skills.

Beethoven’s works are some of the most performed songs from the classical period to the romantic era. Many believe that Beethoven is the greatest classical music composer of all time whereas, for others, he was a musical genius. However, there is a lot more about Beethoven than meets the eye and this article will share some interesting facts about him everyone should know.

Pixabay/Pexels | Baptism

Beethoven’s Date of Birth is Not Certain

Nobody knows Beethoven’s date of birth with certainty. His father, Johann had told him he was born in 1772 in an effort to make people believe Beethoven was younger than he was, so they could talk about how remarkable and talented he was for his age. Although there are no authentic records of Beethoven’s birth, he was baptized on the 17^th of December, 1770 and it was a regional custom to carry out baptism within 24 hours of a child’s birth. This is why many theorize that he may have been born on the 16^th of December, 1770.

Blue Ox Studio/Pexels | Choir

Beethoven Came from A Musical Family

Beethoven’s grandfather was a successful musician named Ludwig Van Beethoven and thus, his grandson was named after him and was also his inspiration from an early age. The elder Ludwig Van Beethoven was an important musician in Bonn, Germany and his grandson would later follow in his footsteps and even surpass him in terms of talent and popularity.

Beethoven’s Father was A Failed Musician

Ludwig Van Beethoven may have been a genius music composer but his father, being a failed singer himself, had a lot to do with his success. During his formative years, Beethoven’s father honed his son’s skills and talent as a musician with a strict training regimen, ensuring that he practiced music for hours upon hours every day.

Mart Production/Pexels | A picture showing a drunk and troubled person

Beethoven’s Family Was Troubled

Ludwig Van Beethoven went through a traumatic childhood–he came from a poor household and had to drop out of school at age eleven to help support the them financially. With his six siblings, four of whom died in their infancy, and a father who was an alcoholic, by the age of eighteen, Beethoven had become the family’s breadwinner.