For many years, it was not known what caused his death. Although a bloodletting by a medic, two hours before his death is considered the immediate cause, the composer was probably already suffering from rheumatic fever with rheumatoid arthritis, with a very high temperature and concomitant neurological complications. He was buried in a 3rd class grave, like most of Vienna's residents. Such a burial was conditioned by two orders of Joseph II Habsburg, which dictated the various elements of the funeral.
