A 1595 painting of Sparre, holding his treatise Pro rege, lege et grege
3rd Lord High Chancellor of Sweden
In office 1593 – 20 March 1600
Monarchs
John III of Sweden Charles IX of Sweden
Preceded by
Nils Gyllenstierna [sv]
Succeeded by
Svante Bielke [sv][a]
Privy Councilor
In office 1575 or 1576 – 19 February 1590
Monarch
John III of Sweden
Personal details
Born
Erik Larsson
(1550-07-13)13 July 1550 Öja parish, Södermanland [sv], Sweden
Died
20 March 1600(1600-03-20) (aged 49) Linköping, Östergötland, Sweden
Cause of death
Beheading
Spouse
Ebbe Brahe
(m. 1578)
Children
12, including: Johan [sv] Lars [sv] Peder [sv] Ture [sv] Carl [sv]
Parents
Lars Siggesson [sv] (father)
Britta Turesdotter Trolle (mother)
Erik Larsson Sparre (born Erik Larsson; also known as Erik Gyllensparre, Eric Sparre, or Erik Sparre of Rossvik;[b] 13 July 1550 – 20 March 1600) was a Swedish noble, statesman, diplomat, and political theorist who served as Privy Councilor from 1575 or 1576 until 1590 and Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1593 until his execution in 1600.
An esteemed orator and rhetorician, Sparre was considered the spokesman for the well-organized aristocratic opposition who advocated for parliamentary sovereignty in the Swedish government and is largely remembered for his contributions to Swedish law. His major written work – Pro lege, rege et grege ('For the Law, the King, and the People') – remains highly regarded as an early defense of contractualism and earned him the reputation as the "father of Swedish constitutional law". Sparre's ideas were initially backed by John III of Sweden in order to check the ambitions of his brother, Duke Charles, but relations between Sparre and John soured when the nobility was able to overrule the king's prerogative during a stand-off in Reval.
Sparre's diplomatic career was long and varied. He had early successes negotiating with the Danes in border disputes and helped to secure Sigismund III Vasa's accession to the Polish throne. During the discussions of Sigismund's election, Polish and Swedish tensions heightened after a misunderstanding about the annexation of Estonia, a fault that was blamed on Sparre. Following the death of John III in 1592, Sparre backed Sigismund's attempt to secure the Swedish crown from Charles, but failed to secure significant material gain from potential allies abroad. After Sigismund's defeat, Sparre was convicted of treason during a show trial and beheaded during the Linköping Bloodbath.
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Erik Larsson Sparre (born Erik Larsson; also known as Erik Gyllensparre, Eric Sparre, or ErikSparre of Rossvik; 13 July 1550 – 20 March 1600) was a Swedish...
Desirée Sparre-Enger, Norwegian pop singer ErikSparre (1550–1600), Swedish nobleman executed at the Linköping Bloodbath Gustaf Adolf Sparre, Swedish...
Sweden. Ebba Sparre was the daughter of statesman and marshal Lars Eriksson Sparre and Märta Banér and grandchild of chancellor Erik Larsson Sparre. She arrived...
of kammarherre and artist friherre Carl Sparre (1648–1716) and half brother of ErikSparre af Sundby. Sparre was born in Visby, Gotland. He became a student...
1663–1732 1719 ErikSparre af Sundby [sv] 1665–1726 1719 Gustaf Adam Taube [sv] 1673–1732 1719 Carl Gustaf Örnestedt [sv] 1669–1742 1721 Axel Sparre 1652–1728...
the king. Hedvig Taube herself, however, was engaged to a young count ErikSparre and refused, supported by her mother. Her mother suggested to take Hedvig...
severe punishment some of them lost courage. Erik Gustavsson Stenbock, Arvid Gustavsson Stenbock, ErikSparre, Erik Brahe (1552–1614) [sv], and Sten Banér [sv]...
Bengt Edvard Sixten "Sigge" Sparre af Rossvik (27 September 1854 – 19 July 1889) was a Swedish nobleman, lieutenant, cavalry officer, journalist, poet...
1601 (aged 74–75) 1560 1590 Eric XIV (1560–1568) John III (1568–1590) ErikSparre 13 July 1550 – 20 March 1600 (aged 49) 1593 20 March 1600 Sigismund Vasa...
Erik Møller Pedersen also directed a Danish film, with Anne Mette Michaelsen in the title role as Elvira Madigan and Søren Svejstrup as Sixten Sparre...
1712 and were presented to King Louis XIV by the Duke of Noailles and ErikSparre. Bengt Ludvig left his military career when he inherited and moved to...
reads: Märtha, dotter af Erik X, som blef gift med Nils Sixtensson till Tofta, och, genom detta äktenskap, stammoder för Sparre- och Oxenstjerna-slägterna...
councilors protested the idea and furious John promised to persecute them. ErikSparre asked Anna to intercede as mediator and calm her father. While Sigismund...
Reinhold Johan von Lingen (1763–1772) Axel Löwen (1773–1776) Gabriel ErikSparre (1776–1786) Carl Adam Wrangel (1786–1803) Eric von Nolcken (1803–1811)...
(allegedly) Martha Eriksdotter, who married the Marshal Nils Sixtensson (Sparre) Ingeborg Eriksdotter (died 1254), married to Birger Jarl, regent of Sweden...
Adolf of Sweden, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Margareta Stähl, Count Claes Sparre, Anna Adelswärd, Prince Charles of Belgium, Count Folke Bernadotte, Baron...
and dilettante artist. Ulla Tessin was born to riksråd marshal count ErikSparre of Sundby and Christina (Stina) Beata Lillie. She was given private tuition...
County ErikSparre Conservative Group 1867–1869 Älvsborg County Gustaf Adolf Vive Sparre independent 1867–1875 Kopparberg County Gustaf Sparre independent...
with the Committee on Housing, into the Committee on Civil Affairs. ErikSparre 1850 / 1851 - 1865/ 1866 Gullberg, Ingvar E. (1977). Svensk-engelsk fackordbok...