Who were the biggest patrons of Beethoven?

The biggest patrons of Beethoven were Archduke Rudolph, Count Andreas Razumovsky, Prince Kinsky, and Prince Lobkowitz. Archduke Rudolph was Emperor Leopold's youngest son, and he is considered the most important of all the patrons of Beethoven.

Beethoven did make 14 compositions and dedicated them to him after Rudolph started to study with him in the year 1804. This includes "Archduke trio" (piano trio in B-flat major Op. 97), and the Missa Solemnis. Rudolph also did a composition which he dedicated to Beethoven. Another patron of Beethoven, Andreas Razumovsky, commissioned Op. 59, Nos. 1-3 (Razumovsky Quartets).

Only three of these patrons agreed to play Beethoven, and it was only Archduke Rudolph that ended up paying. Prince Kinsky did die when he fell from his horse, while prince Lobkowitz refused to pay again in September 1811. He expected Beethoven to publish his compositions and get his small pension remaining to meet his needs.

There were three main patrons who funded Beethoven. This came about when he was offered a place at the court of Napoleon’s brother, who was the King of Westphalia. Beethoven had initially accepted the offer but was offered a more lucrative payment to stay where he was in Vienna. His three patrons were the Archduke Rudolph, Prince Kinsky, and Prince Lobkowitz. The promised payment was only partially fulfilled. The three patrons agreed to pay a total of 4,400 florins, which was a handsome sum at the time.

It also gives an idea of how Beethoven was esteemed in Vienna. Archduke Rudolph was the only one of the patrons who fully paid his share. Prince Kinsky died soon after the offer was made when he took a bad fall from his horse. Prince Lobkowitz paid a small percentage of his, but then stopped paying. Beethoven was forced to sell some of his works to make ends meet.

Beethoven dedicated several of his works to Archduke Rudolph and seemed to enjoy a friendship with the duke, for many years.