Henrik Benzelius

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Henrik Benzelius

Henrik Benzelius , sometimes Henric Benzelius (born August 7, 1689 in Strängnäs , † May 20, 1758 in Uppsala ) was a Swedish Lutheran theologian and Archbishop of Uppsala .

family

Henrik Benzelius belongs to the important Benzelius family of theologians . His father Erik Benzelius the Elder was bishop in Strängnäs and later archbishop, his mother Margaretha Odhelia (1653–1693) was a granddaughter of Archbishop Petrus Kenicius . Three of their children were ennobled by the name Benzelstierna and held high secular offices, while Henrik succeeded his brothers Erik and Jakob as archbishop.

Benzelius was married to Emerentia Rudenschöld (1708-1770), the daughter of Bishop Torsten Rudeen (1661-1729) , from 1725 .

Life

After studying at Uppsala University , Benzelius went on an extensive study trip through Eastern Europe and the Middle East from 1712 to 1718. In the field camp of the Swedish King Karl XII. In Bender in today's Moldova he was captured in the scuffle of Bender in 1713 and followed the king to Demotika Castle and on to Timurtasch near Adrianople . At his request, he spent 15 months in Constantinople from April 1714 to study the oriental languages ​​and then traveled via Asia Minor, Cyprus, Syria and Palestine to Egypt. Via Livorno he came to Paris in September 1716, where he stayed for a year and a half for further study purposes. The return journey took him via Altdorf , where he defended a disputation under Johann Wilhelm Baier in 1718, as well as Leiden and Utrecht to Gothenburg .

In 1719 Benzelius was Praepositus at Lund University and rose to associate professor the following year. In 1728 he became professor of oriental languages. In 1732 he was promoted to professor of theology and in 1733 was promoted to Dr. theol. PhD. In 1734 he was the rector of the university. As Bishop of Lund (1740–1747) he became a member of the Reichstag and worked as a supporter of the “Hat Party” until his death . In 1751/52 and 1755/56 he was the spokesman for the pastorate at the Reichstag. His work against pietism is also remarkable .

After the death of his brother Jakob , Benzelius was appointed Archbishop of Uppsala in September 1747 and served as the highest dignitary of the Church of Sweden until his death . In 1746 he was accepted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences .

Fonts (selection)

  • De peregrinationibus religiosis exercitatio (1724)
  • Dissertatio theologica gradualis de Sectis Ecclesiae Orientalis nostri temporis (1733)
  • Epitome repetitionis theologicæ (1734)
  • Repetitio theologica (1735)
  • Syntagma dissertationum in academia Lundensi habitarum . Frankfurt & Leipzig 1745

literature

predecessor Office successor
Jakob Benzelius Archbishop of Uppsala
1747–1758 		Samuel Troilius
personal data
SURNAME Benzelius, Henrik
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Benzelius, Henric
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish Lutheran theologian and Archbishop of Uppsala
DATE OF BIRTH August 7, 1689
PLACE OF BIRTH Strängnäs
DATE OF DEATH May 20, 1758
Place of death Uppsala