According to a common legend, the decision of Alfred Nobel not to establish a premium in mathematics for the fact that the representative of this discipline took away from the Swede either a wife or a bride. We checked whether this is so.

Supporters of the legend as the main argument lead to this: initially, mathematics was included in the treasured list of directions for which the bonuses would have to be awarded. However, c will Nobel 1895 is not mentioned:

“... these interest must be divided into five equal parts that are intended: one part is to one who will make the most important discovery or invention in the field of physics; the other is to the one who will make the most important discovery or improvement in the field of chemistry; The third is the one who will make the most important discovery in the field of physiology or medicine; The fourth - to the one who will create the most outstanding literary work of the idealistic direction; The fifth - to the one who made the most significant contribution to the cohesion of nations, the destruction of slavery or the decrease in the number of existing armies and the promotion of peaceful congresses ... "

Most often, in connection with the decision of Nobel, the name of the famous Swedish mathematician Magnus Mittag-Lofler is mentioned not to include this discipline. There are several versions of the reason for the deterioration of his relationship with Nobel. But the most popular says that allegedly Mittag-Lofler took his wife or mistress from Nobel. The first option is cut off immediately - Alfred Nobel was never married or engaged. As for the second, it is known about several Nobel loves.

The first passion of the Swede was the Russian girl Alexander, but she refused his proposal. Some Russian -speaking sources mention Anna Desri, a certain Petersburger, but the story with her is full of contradictions.

The second is called the secretary of Nobel, Austrian Bert Kinsky, who is believed to have influenced the decision of the Nobel to establish the world award. However, she did this later, by correspondence, and before that she married and escaped from Nobel, with whom, as far as is known, she did not be in intimate relationships. Interestingly, in the future, pacifist Bert von Zuttner (she took this surname after the wedding) will become one of the first laureates of the world award.

And, finally, the only woman with whom Alfred Nobel had long -term relationships was the young Sophie Hess from Vienna. They met and corresponded for 18 years (from 1876 to 1894). During this time, Sophie even managed to get pregnant, but not from Nobel and not from Mittag-Lofler, but from some Hungarian hussar. He was forced to resign and marry Hess, but disappeared almost immediately after the wedding, having managed to ask Nobel money during this time. But there are no information about the acquaintance of Magnus Mittaga Luffler with Sophie Hess in accessible sources. Moreover, from 1882 to the end of his life, Mittag-Lofler was married to a completely different woman.

Berta Kinski (left) and Sophie Hess (right)

But did Nobel have other reasons not to desire, so that his compatriot-mathematician ever receive a prize of his name? It is reliably known that Mittag-Luffler for some time headed the Stockholm University College (future university) and tried to convince Nobel who lived in Paris to mention this educational institution in his will. And although in the first version of the will of 1883 the college was really present, in the final version of 1895 it was no longer there. Whether this was connected with the personal attitude of Nobel towards Mittag-Lofler, no one knows, but this fact could affect the birth of a legend about the Nobel Prize. But, as stated in interview Michael Sulman, Executive Director of the Nobel Fund, “Rossiya Gazeta”, “Rather, mathematics simply was not part of the interests of Nobel. He bequeathed the money for prizes in the areas close to him. "

What is the true reason for the non -inclusion of mathematics in the list of Nobel disciplines, we most likely never know. But there is no “female trace” in this story, apparently.