Primary sourceDocument1813

Wellington's Victory

Ludwig van Beethoven · 1813

A loud orchestral battle piece Beethoven wrote in 1813 to celebrate Wellington's victory over Napoleon's forces in Spain, his greatest popular success in his lifetime.

Beethoven composed and conducted this patriotic battle piece, his greatest popular success during his lifetime.

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Title page of the printed full score of Beethoven's Wellingtons Sieg, oder Die Schlacht bey Vittoria, in ornate calligraphic lettering on aged tan paper. Handwritten and stamped library marks appear at the top, including a purple oval stamp reading Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Muenchen. Lower text lists publisher S.A. Steiner und Comp. in Wien, with further distributors in Leipzig, Bonn, Offenbach and other cities. — Ludwig van Beethoven, Wellington's Victory, Op. 91, title page of printed score, 1816. Bavarian State Library.

About this source

What it is

Wellington's Victory, Op. 91, is an orchestral work composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1813 to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Vitoria. It was dedicated to the Prince Regent, later King George IV, and the autograph score is preserved in the Berlin State Library.

Why it matters

Written for a huge orchestra with muskets and artillery sound effects, it uses tunes like 'Rule Britannia' and 'God Save the King' to depict the clash between British and French forces. It proved to be Beethoven's biggest moneymaker and ties him directly to the anti-Napoleonic politics of his time, showing how a serious composer could also produce patriotic, crowd-pleasing spectacle.

Look closer

Why might Beethoven have avoided using the French national anthem to represent Napoleon's army?
What does the huge, noisy orchestration tell you about the piece's purpose compared to his symphonies?
How does a title page like this one help historians track where a printed score has traveled since 1816?

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