Maria Magdalena van Beethoven

Maria Magdalena van Beethoven (19 December 1746 in Ehrenbreitstein - 17 July 1787 in Bonn) was the mother of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

She was born Maria Magdalena Keverich on Wambachgasse in Ehrenbreitstein, now a district of Koblenz. Her father Johann Heinrich Keverich (1701 - 1759) was chief court chef in the service of the Electors of Trier, who resided in Philippsburg Castle in Ehrenbreitstein. Her mother was Anna Klara (Clara) née Westorff (1707 – 1768). In her first marriage, she was married to the Electoral Chamberlain Johann Leym, whom she married on 30 January 1763. However, her husband died on 28 November 1765 and so Maria Magdalena was already a widow at the age of 18.

One of her cousins ​​married the court violinist Johann Konrad Rovantini and moved with him to Bonn, where he found a job in the electoral court orchestra. It is assumed that Maria Magdalena met Johann van Beethoven, who also worked in the court orchestra, through these family connections. Both married in Bonn on 12 November 1767 and had seven children together, only three of whom survived infancy. The later famous composer Ludwig was born as the second child. The other two children were named Kaspar Karl and Nikolaus Johann.