BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, October 1, 1820 (approximately)

Nephew Karl has his fall vacations, and he comes to stay with Uncle Ludwig in Mödling for a few days. It’s not clear exactly what date he arrives, but he has already been there a while when the Giannatasio family visits Beethoven on Thursday, October 5.

Today is the beginning of the autumn Leipzig Trade Fair, which in 1820 started on October 1, the first Sunday after Michaelmas (September 29). It will run for about three weeks. This trade fair goes back to medieval times, and still continues today. Franz Oliva on August 5 said he was definitely going to the Leipzig Fair (although he was under the impression that it occurred in mid-September), on behalf of his employer, so at some point around now he heads for Leipzig on business and is unable to help Beethoven for most of the month of October.

Oliva was in Vienna yesterday collecting Beethoven’s pension for him, and the next date that he is known to definitely be in Vienna is October 26, so that allows for about three and one-half weeks in which his Leipzig trip could fall. If we assume roughly five to seven days travel in each direction to cover 550+ km by horse-drawn carriage, plus at least two or three days to conduct his necessary business, that fits tidily into the time frame where we know his presence in Vienna for certain. Oliva thus probably departs for Leipzig sometime during the first half of this week.