Salzburg’s cathedral archives record a detail about Leopold Mozart’s life that he no doubt wished would never have happened. In 1753 Leopold was charged by the cathedral magistrate with having written an “invidious pamplet” about two prominent citizens, a priest named Egglstainer and one of the counts of Thurn und Taxis. For this he was made to apologize by threat of imprisonment, and the pamplet was “torn to bits and scattered at his feet”. This event should not be considered inconsequential, because it clearly damaged Leopold’s prospects in Salzburg.
Sources:
- Maynard Solomon, Mozart, 1995, p29
- Hermann Abert, W.A. Mozart, 2007 edition, translated by Stewart Spencer, edited by Cliff Eisen, p3
