After their mother had passed away and their father sunk into alcoholism, Beethoven – a young man himself – had to fulfill the role of a guardian of his two younger brothers. This responsibility meant both financial support and spiritual, moral guidance, as well. As the siblings grew older and financially independent, Beethoven still held on to this role and often interfered with their personal life. These occasions usually turned to be catastrophic!
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In October 1812 he visited his brother Nikolaus Johann, in Linz. Nikolaus was proud to welcome his famous brother in his home, providing him a room with view of the Danube. Even the local paper boasted with the visit saying, “Now we have had the long wished for pleasure of having within our metropolis for several days the Orpheus and great musical poet of our time, Herr L. van Beethoven.” During his stay he befriended the local Kapellmeister of the Linz Cathedral for whom he composed three pieces. This is where and when he finalized the score of the Eight Symphony.
As days passed he came to realize that his brother was bedding his ‘housekeeper’, Therese Obermeyer. Right away he switched to (over)protection mode and did his best to defend the family name. Years before, despite his protest, Carl had married Johanna, who was pregnant at the time (not necessarily from Carl), and now his other brother was in a relationship with a woman who had a five years old daughter. Beside this, Beethoven regarded Therese as an unworthy gold-digger (his brother was a relatively wealthy man from selling medicine).
At first, he demanded that the woman should be sent away. Johann in fury stormed into his room shouting, then punches followed. The composer failed to convince him. Now, plan B was about to be executed. Ludwig complained to the local bishop and the police painting Therese as an immoral woman and demanding a legal order to kick her out of town. Authorities could not resist the pressure coming from such celebrity and finally gave in.
Ludwig pushed his brother into the corner and Johann had no other way out of this than making the relationship legal: on November 8, 1812 he married Therese. The marriage turned to be woeful and for his situation Johann later blamed his big brother.
Despite his best intentions, both his brothers married to women Beethoven regarded as lowlife and simply: devils.
