Haquin Spegel

The Most Reverend Haquin Spegel
Archbishop of Uppsala Primate of Sweden
Haquin Spegel, engraving from 1715
Church	Church of Sweden
Archdiocese	Uppsala
Appointed	1711
In office	1711-1714
Predecessor	Erik Benzelius the elder
Successor	Mathias Steuchius
Orders
Rank	Metropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Born	14 June 1645 Ronneby, Sweden
Died	17 April 1714 (aged 68) Uppsala, Sweden
Nationality	Swede
Parents	Daniel Spegel Margareta Fischer
Spouse	Anna Schultin
Previous post	Bishop of Skara (1685-1693) Bishop of Linköping (1693-1711)
Alma mater	Lund University

Haquin Spegel (Haqvin) (14 June 1645 – 17 April 1714), born Håkan Spegel in Ronneby in Blekinge (today in Sweden), was a religious author and hymn writer who held several bishop's seats.

Life

In 1675, the King Charles XI of Sweden appointed him as court chaplain. During the wars in the following years, he followed the King, and became a close confidant of his. He kept a diary during the whole time, which has proven to be valuable as research material.

In 1680 he wed Queen Ulrika Eleonora and the King. He spent the following five years mainly on the island of Gotland as a superintendent over the Diocese of Visby. He managed to write the Rudera Gothlandica during this time (published first 1901).

In 1685 he was appointed Bishop of Linköping in eastern Sweden. In 1693 he was transferred to the seat in Diocese of Skara, central Sweden, where he remained until 1711. On the death of the Archbishop of Uppsala, Spegel was elected his successor, although he only held this position for three years.

During that time he wrote an influential epos called God's work and rest about God's creation as written about in the Bible.

Other notability

It is said that he worked for education of the people, and wanted every peasant in Sweden to be able to read.

He was also known as a hymnist and poet.

External links

Reference:

• (Swedish)Svenskt Litteraturhistoria i Sammandrag (1904)
• (Swedish)article Spegel, Haqvin In Nordisk familjebok (1917)