Mozart's Baptism at St. Rupert's Cathedral: A Musical Legacy Begins

On 27/01/1756 at approximately 8:00 p.m., Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg to Leopold Mozart, a violinist and composer in the service of the Prince-Archbishop, and Anna Maria Mozart. The family lived at Getreidegasse No. 9 in the city. Mozart was the youngest of seven children, though only he and his sister Maria Anna “Nannerl” survived infancy. His birth took place within the Archbishopric of Salzburg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. On the morning of 28/01/1756, Mozart was baptized at St. Rupert’s Cathedral, commonly known as Salzburg Cathedral. The baptismal record lists his full name as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. The multiple names reflected the Catholic liturgical calendar and naming traditions of the time. In later life, Mozart used variations of “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,” adapting the Latin and Greek forms of Theophilus into German and French equivalents. The birth and baptism in January 1756 marked the beginning of a life closely tied to Salzburg during his early years. Leopold Mozart began documenting his son’s musical development in childhood, and within five years Wolfgang was composing short keyboard pieces. Public performances followed soon afterward, leading to the European tours that established his reputation as a child prodigy. Why This Moment Matters The birth on 27/01/1756 and baptism on 28/01/1756 are documented in Salzburg parish records, providing the earliest verified details of Mozart’s life.