Beethoven originally composed his 3rd symphony in E-flat major named “Buonaparte” for Napoleon, however when Napoleon made himself emperor, Beethoven became so furious that he called the symphony “Eroica”, no longer a dedication to Napoleon.
“Eroica” was composed in 1803, during the time when Beethoven began to lose his hearing. It is his first work after he realized that he eventually would become deaf, and a it is a revolutionary work when it comes to form, subjects and length.