He wrote them in 1806, as a result of a commission by the Russian ambassador in Vienna, Count Andreas Razumovsky: They are the first three of what are usually known as the "Middle Period" string quartets, or simply the "Middle Quartets."
Beethoven uses a characteristically Russian theme in the first two quartets in honour of the prince who gave him the commission: All three quartets were published as a set in 1808 in Vienna.
Although the quartets are now mainstream repertoire,[3] they were generally received with uncertainty, as they deviated from the established genre of string quartets in their content and emotional range.
However, one review published in 1807 stated that "Three new, very long and difficult Beethoven string quartets … are attracting the attention of all connoisseurs.
The conception is profound and the construction excellent, but they are not easily comprehended.