The news of the battle of Vittoria reached Vienna on July 13.  Beethoven was importuned by a clever friend, M. Maelzel, a musician, to write a symphony in commemoration of it, and to call it “Wellington’s Victory.”  Maelzel was a man of remarkable mechanical ingenuity.  He had before this won his way into Beethoven’s good graces by making him an ear-trumpet, which he used for several years.  He was the inventor of the metronome and a man of considerable intelligence.  He had invented a Panharmonicon, an automaton instrument containing most of the instruments found in full orchestra, on the principle of the modern orchestrion.  Allied to his talents as musician and inventor were those of good business ability and a knowledge of human nature.  The Battle Symphony appears to have been written originally for the Panharmonicon.  “I witnessed,” says Moscheles, “the origin and progress of this work, and remember that not only did Maelzel induce Beethoven to write it, but even laid before him the whole design of it; writing the drum marches and trumpet flourishes of the French and English armies himself, giving Beethoven hints how he should herald the English army by the tune of ‘Rule Brittania;’ how he should introduce ‘Malbrook’ in a dismal strain; depict the horrors of the battle, and arrange ‘God Save the King,’ with effects representing the huzzas of the multitude.  Even the idea of converting the melody of ’God Save the King’ into a subject of a fugue in quick movement emanates from Maelzel.”  It is hardly conceivable that Beethoven, if left to himself, would have produced anything of this sort.  But it exactly suited the popular feeling, and was such a success that Beethoven was induced to arrange it for full orchestra.  This work is never classed among his symphonies, although it served to make him very popular with the Vienna public.

The presence in their midst of the composer of the Eroica Symphony in these stirring times, was a significant fact, which was bound to be duly exploited by the Viennese.  The Battle Symphony confirmed and emphasized Beethoven’s stand as a patriot.  He was consequently greatly looked up to by the young men of the time, in particular by the student element, already of considerable importance in Vienna, who made an idol of him.  He was now everywhere in demand, his music of necessity being a part of the programme of every concert or important event in the City.

It is a national characteristic with the Germans to celebrate every issue with music.  A great occasion called for a great demonstration.  When therefore, it was proposed to give a concert in aid of the Austrian and Bavarian soldiers disabled at the battle of Hanau, where the French were intercepted after their retreat from Leipzig on October 30, the matter was intrusted to Beethoven as being the man best fitted for the work.  It was stipulated that Beethoven’s music was to occupy the programme exclusively, which gave him a good opportunity to produce the Seventh Symphony, still in manuscript.