Ezekiel, Freiherr von Spanheim
Ezekiel Spanheim ( born December 7, 1629 in Geneva, † November 7, 1710 in London) was a German diplomat, jurist and theologian of Swiss origin.
Spanheim was the son of the theologian Prof. Friedrich Spanheim and the brother of the church historian Friedrich Spanheim.
After attending school in Geneva Spanheim went with his family to Leiden, where he studied at the University of Philosophy and Theology. Already with 16 years ended Spanheim his studies with a doctorate About the age of the Hebrew alphabet. This escalated a controversial debate on this issue between Johann Buxtorf and Louis Cappel, because Spanheim supported in his thesis Buxtorf.
1651 took Spanheim on a chair at the university in his hometown and began to teach as a professor rhetoric. The following year he was called Spanheim in the Great Council of the city and from that time he neglected his teaching position and was interested almost exclusively in politics.
1656 appointed the Elector Karl Ludwig I. Spanheim to tutor his son and took him to the Heidelberger Hof. As such Spanheim accompanied his pupil on a trip through Italy. During his tenure as tutor Spanheim wrote his work Traité du Palatinate et de la dignité électorale conte les prétentions de duc de Baviere and recommended himself so his employer as a politician.
1661 tied Spanheim in the electoral commission in Rome diplomatic relations between Heidelberg and the Vatican. In Rome Spanheim also made the acquaintance of Christina, Queen of Sweden and its scientific and literary circle. Inspired by ancient Roman times, Spanheim began to collect coins and also tried to develop a modern system of numismatics.
Back in Heidelberg, Spanheim represented soon in the political conflicts between Spain and France, the interests of the Palatinate. He came for a time suspected to have been bought by the French court. Beginning in 1675 represented Spanheim the Heidelberger Hof at the court of King Charles II; but was already at the end of the same year was recalled.
1678 went Spanheim again to London, this time he represented next to the Heidelberg interests of the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm. When was the Treaty of Saint- Germain negotiated Spanheim entered Electorate of Brandenburg service on February 3, 1680. Funded by Minister Paul Fuchs, he advanced to the Privy Council and ao Ambassador in Paris. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes Spanheim was instrumental in the spread of the Prussian recording Decree for the Huguenots.
1685 represented Spanheim his employer at the accession of King James II at the English court.
1689 returned Spanheim back to Berlin. There he was appointed by the elector with effect from 12 May 1689 Director of the French colonies in Brandenburg. Five years later became Spanheim addition to the President of the newly established Commission ecclésiastique. During this time, the Spanheim Society, a Huguenot scientific association, was founded.
As a diplomat Spanheim 1696 was involved in the negotiations, which a year later was manifested in the Peace of Rijswijk. Then he was sent to 1702 as ambassador to Paris. On the occasion of the coronation of King Frederick I Spanheim was knighted and elevated to the status of baron; associated with it was the office of Minister of State. Financial difficulties led Spanheim, his valuable library to the Prussian King Friedrich I sell. This completed so that the Royal Library in Berlin.
With 73 years Spanheim represented his employer again as ao Ambassador at the English court. With more than 80 years, he died on November 7, 1710 in London.
Works (selection)
- Dissertatio de usu et praestantia numismatum antiquorum, editio princeps: Roma 1664; Final edition: London 1706/17 ( 2 vols )
- Orbis Romanus, Halle 1728
- Relation de la cour de France en 1690th Mercure de France, Paris 1973
- Aristophanes: Commoediae, Fritsch, Amsterdam 1710
- Julian: Les cesars, Leipzig 1696
- Callimachus: Hymni, epigramata et fragmenta, Halman & van de Water, Utrecht 1697 ( 2 vols )