What was Mozarts nationality?

Answer 1

Wofgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was born in a geographic area we now call Austria. So we could be tempted to say he was Austrian. However! 'Austria', as a nation, did not exist at that time! Mozart was born into, and was a citizen of, the small sovereign state of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, which was a self governing state within, and part of, the Holy Roman Empire. So, maybe he was a Salzburger!

Interestingly, the sovereign state of Salzburg did not become part of the Austrian Empire until 1816, which was 25 years after Mozart died!

An additional point to take into account is that, from a date about 100 years prior to Mozart's birth, i.e. in 1648, the Archbishop of the Archbishopric of Salzburg had also traditionally carried the title "First [Bishop] of Germania." Furthermore, in Mozart's time, the land we now call Germany was part of the vast Holy Roman Empire. And it was ruled by Emperors of the House of Habsburg-Lorriane, who also bore the title 'King of Germany'. So, maybe Mozart, having been born in a territory ruled by the First Bishop of Germania, and living in an area under the control of a succession of Kings of Germany, actually had Germannationality!

Even so, the state of Salzburg was part of, and situated within, the boundaries of the 'Bavarian Circle', one of the Holy Roman Empire's administrative Imperial Circles, geographic groups of states within the Empire. So... maybe he was Bavarian! ---- NATION/NATIONALITY

It may also be worth noting that the relatively modern concepts of 'Nation/Nationality' did not, in earlier ages, seem to have had the same clarity of distinction that are these words appear to carry now, and, according to historians, the idea of 'nation-states' emerged in the 19th century, particularly after the fall of various 'Empires'.

"In the old European system, the rights of nationalities were neither recognised by governments nor asserted by the people. The interest of the reigning families, not those of the nations, regulated the frontiers; and the administration was conducted generally without any reference to popular desires." Lord Acton, 'Nationality', 1862. From this it would seem that, in those times, 'nationality' was largely irrelevant. It was the ruling families who determined who could live in the land, and who could not. Often this was decided on the basis of religion or other personal considerations, rather than by reference to a person's place of birth. On this basis, maybe Mozart had no 'nationality' as such. He travelled freely between Vienna, Munich, Paris, London, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and Salzburg, so maybe 'nationality' was unimportant to him too. He was German-speaking, but also knew Italian and French. Whatever his 'real' nationality may have been, his compositions have attracted universal acclaim. ---- For more information, see 'Related links' below.

Answer 2

He was born Salzburg which makes him Austrian.

Answer 3

He was born in Salzburg, so he was Austrian. Mozart played an Instrument...

He was a good player!