Who were Ludwig van Beethoven’s early patrons in Vienna?

Upon arriving in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven was quickly embraced by the local aristocracy, who held him in high regard for his exceptional talent as a piano virtuoso and improviser. His earliest and most significant patrons in the city were:1

• Gottfried, Baron van Swieten: A prominent figure in Viennese musical circles who had previously supported Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.1
• Karl, Fürst (Prince) von Lichnowsky: A dedicated supporter of the arts who, like van Swieten, had remained a patron of Mozart until the latter's death. Prince Lichnowsky provided Beethoven with significant support, including free board and lodging, and later granted him a regular annual allowance.21

These patrons were instrumental in helping Beethoven establish himself in Vienna during the 1790s, a period when music had become a favored pastime for the city's cultured elite.1