Goethe was engaged to several women
He had a passion for women in addition to literature and art in general. In addition to fiancées, he had a number of mistresses. Goethe wed his longtime girlfriend Christiane Vulpius for the first time at the age of 57. A 17-year-old son resides with them as his parents.
Goethe married longtime mistress Christiane Vulpius in 1806. They had five children, of which only their eldest son, August von Goethe, survived to adulthood. One was stillborn, while the others died prematurely. August had three children with Ottilie von Goethe: Walther von Goethe, Wolfgang and Alma. Alma died of typhoid during the outbreak in Vienna, a month before her 17th birthday. Walther and Wolfgang are not married and have no children. Walther's tombstone reads: "With him ending Goethe's reign, the name will last forever.", marking the end of Goethe's personal bloodline. While he has no descendants nor sisters.
His love interest Lotte was the subject of his book The Sorrows of Young Werther. He became so well-known as a result that he had to travel undercover. He was close to Charlotte von Stein, an older and married woman, in 1776. Charlotte was devastated when he abruptly left town without warning her.
