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# Facts about Beethoven's mother from Koblenz refute the myth of his African origin
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/pro-chernokozhego-napoleona-my-uzhe-slyshali-teper-okazyvaetsia-chto-i-betkhoven-byl-chiornym/
- Published: 2023-01-26T05:54:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:53:22.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Books, Museums, Observations, People, Humour

We have already heard about a black Napoleon; now it turns out that Beethoven was black too. One wonders who is next in line: Shakespeare?

The author of this theory has even published a book, but not one of the facts he cites as proof of Beethoven's African origins is true. The myth rests on the claim that Beethoven's mother was a Moor, and that he himself was so dark-skinned that he never left the house without a thick layer of make-up, while his hair was typically African: black and curly.

It is strange that there are people who believe this fairy tale. After all, even Beethoven's hair has survived in several museum collections, and it does not look curly at all...

The composer's mother was born into a prosperous German family in the ancient German city of Koblenz, and bore the most Christian of names, Maria Magdalena. Her father worked as a cook to the Elector. Portraits of Beethoven's parents survive, as do descriptions of them in the writings of their contemporaries, and there is not the slightest hint of African blood in any of them.

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_8312@26-01-2023_08-54-44.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_8313@26-01-2023_08-54-44.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_8314@26-01-2023_08-54-44.jpg)