The Enlightenment and the founding of the university

The member of the Habsburg royal family Max Franz, a son of the empress Maria Theresia, continued the thrifty financial policy of his predecessor Max Friedrich. In addition, as a supporter of the Enlightenment, he viewed his position more as an "office" and a position in which he "served the state", as a frequently cited quotation by him goes.

His prime goal was to guarantee and promote the education and the wellbeing of the population. Under his reign the "Maxische Akademie" that was founded by his predecessor was extended to become a university and thus Bonn's first university.

Godesberg owes its elevation to the status of a health spa to him. This is where a young Ludwig van Beethoven played in La Redoute as a member of the Chapel royal.

As a sponsor of music and theatre Max Franz also made it possible for Beethoven to make his first trip to Vienna. Thus the reign of elector Max Franz turned out to be a fruitful epoch in Bonn’s history that was also characterised by the spirit of the Enlightenment. However, it was only to last ten years as French revolutionary troops forced their way into the city of Bonn and occupied it in 1794. Elector Max Franz had to flee to Vienna, whilst hard times commenced for the people of Bonn.