5 Facts About Beethoven's Eroica and Napoleon
- Eroica means “heroic” in Italian, and Beethoven originally dedicated the symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Beethoven admired Napoleon as a symbol of revolutionary ideals and individual freedom.
- He withdrew the dedication after Napoleon declared himself emperor, feeling betrayed by the act of self-coronation.
- The symphony was then rededicated “to the memory of a great man,” leaving the hero unnamed.
- Despite the change, the music’s heroic and dramatic character remains tied to its original inspiration.