In the fall of 1808, after turning down a position at the Royal Theater, Beethoven was offered a well-paid position as bandmaster at the court of Cassel by Napoleon's brother, Jerome Bonaparte, then king of Westphalia.

To persuade Beethoven to stay in Vienna, Archduke Rudolf and his other patrons agreed to pay him an annuity of 4000 florins per year. Only Rudolf fulfilled his obligation, so the composer was forced to resort to the law.