Erik Sparre af Sundby

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Field Marshal Erik Sparre, portrait by Nicolas de Largillière

Erik Sparre af Sundby , count since 1719 , ( Swedish Erik Axelsson greve Sparre af Sundby ; * July 15, 1665 , † August 4, 1726 in Stockholm ) was a Swedish diplomat , councilor , field marshal and painter .

Life

Origin and family

Coat of arms of Count Erik Sparre af Sundby, from 1719

Erik was a member of the Swedish noble family of barons ( Swedish friherre ) Sparre . His parents were the Swedish statesman Axel Carlsson Sparre (1620–1679) and Countess Beata, nee Stenbock (* 1638). The also Swedish field marshal Count Axel Sparre (1652-1728) was his brother. Erik's first marriage in Stockholm in 1707 was Countess Sofia Wrede (1676–1708), a daughter of the Swedish statesman Fabian Wrede (1641–1712). As a widower, he married Countess Christina Beata Lillie, widowed Sack , (1677–1727) in 1710 . One child each resulted from both marriages:

Sparre was raised to the Swedish count status in 1719 with the improvement of the coat of arms and introduced to the count class of the Swedish knighthood (No. 63). The Count's line of Sparre af Sundby donated by him expired with his grandchildren.

Career

Sparre began his career in the Swedish army in 1682 as a cornet in the Karelian cavalry regiment .

As an ensign he went into French service in the OW Königsmarck regiment in 1683 . There he was promoted to lieutenant in 1685 , second captain in 1688 , major in 1690, and finally in 1690, when he was promoted to colonel, he was also head of the regiment of the Régiment de Royal Suèdois , which until 1714 was called "Sparre". In the War of the Spanish Succession he was able to distinguish himself several times and rose to brigadier of the French infantry in 1701 , in 1703 to commander of the Pomeranian infantry regiment, in 1704 to marshal de camp and finally in 1707 lieutenant general of the French army.

The members of the Peace Congress of Baden September 7, 1714, painting by Johann Rudolf Huber

Sparre returned to the Swedish service in 1712 and became the commander of the Närke and Värmland infantry regiments . In 1714 he was sent to Baden in Aargau as an authorized minister and negotiated the peace of Baden there . In the same year he became ambassador extraordinary to Paris , which he remained until 1717. Also in 1717 he was promoted to General of the Swedish Infantry and in 1718 became Imperial Councilor and Chancellor Council. In 1719 he was ambassador to the imperial court in Vienna and was promoted to field marshal in the same year. In 1720 he was once again Ambassador Extraordinary in Paris and at the same time in London .

painting

Like his brothers, Sparre had pronounced artistic inclinations. In Paris he was friends with Hyacinthe Rigaud and Nicolas de Largillière , who both portrayed him. He had also made some paintings himself, including a miniature portrait of Charles XII.

possession

Sundby Castle, engraving by Erik Dahlberg (1680)

Sparre was the count of Sundby Castle , Öja parish , Södermanlands län and, through marriage, also owned Fånö, Lots parish, Uppsala län . He was buried with his two wives in the church at Oja.

literature

Web links

Commons : Erik Sparre af Sundby  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Anders Anton von Stiernman: Matriculation öfwer Swea rikes ridderskap och adel. Stockholm 1754 pp. 47-48 (Swedish).
  2. ^ Gabriel Anrep: Svenska adelns ättartaflor. Volume 4, Stockholm 1864, pp. 46-47 (Swedish).
personal data
SURNAME Sparre af Sundby, Erik
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sparre af Sundby, Erik Axelsson greve (Swedish with patronymic and title)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish diplomat, imperial councilor, field marshal and painter
DATE OF BIRTH July 15, 1665
DATE OF DEATH August 4, 1726
Place of death Stockholm