His Most Illustrious and Reverend Eminence Archduke Rudolph Johannes Joseph Rainier of Austria (January 8, 1788 - July 24, 1831) was an Austria nobleman and churchman.
Born in Pisa, Italy, he was the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II. He was elected archbishop of Olomouc in 1819 and became cardinal in the same year.
In 1803 or 1804, Rudolph began taking lessons in piano and composition from Ludwig van Beethoven. The two became friends, and R...
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His Most Illustrious and Reverend Eminence Archduke Rudolph Johannes Joseph Rainier of Austria (January 8, 1788 - July 24, 1831) was an Austria nobleman and churchman.
Born in Pisa, Italy, he was the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II. He was elected archbishop of Olomouc in 1819 and became cardinal in the same year.
In 1803 or 1804, Rudolph began taking lessons in piano and composition from Ludwig van Beethoven. The two became friends, and Rudolph became a supporter and patron of Beethoven; their meetings continued until 1824. Beethoven dedicated 14 compositions to Rudolph, including the Archduke Trio and his great Missa Solemnis. Rudolph, in turn, dedicated one of his own compositions to Beethoven. The letters Beethoven wrote to Rudolph are today kept at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.
He died in Baden, and was interred in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna; his heart was buried in the cathedral of Olomouc.
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