18 Facts About Zachris Topelius

Zacharias Topelius was a Finnish author, poet, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history.

Zachris Topelius is therefore the preferred form used in recent academic literature about him.

The original name of the Zachris Topelius family was the Finnish name Toppila, which had been Latinized to Toppelius by the author's grandfather's grandfather and later changed to Zachris Topelius.

Zachris Topelius was born at Kuddnas, near Nykarleby in Ostrobothnia, the son of a physician of the same name, who was distinguished as the earliest collector of Finnish folk-songs.

Zachris Topelius was given a Christian upbringing that came to characterize his entire life.

Zachris Topelius came to Helsingfors, Helsinki in 1831 and became a member of the circle of young nationalist men surrounding Johan Ludvig Runeberg, in whose home he stayed for some time.

Zachris Topelius was made first ordinary professor of Finnish, Russian and Nordic history in 1863, and exchanged this chair for the one in general history in 1876.

Zachris Topelius was rector of the university from 1875 until 1878, when he retired as Emeritus Professor and received the title of verkligt statsrad.

Zachris Topelius was editor-in-chief of the Helsingfors Tidningar from 1841 to 1860.

In 1878, Zachris Topelius was allowed to withdraw from his professional duties, but this did not sever his connection with the university; it gave him more leisure for his abundant and various literary enterprises.

Zachris Topelius attempted to write drama, too, enjoying most success with his tragedy Regina von Emmeritz.

Zachris Topelius aimed at the cultivation of a strong Finnish patriotism.

Zachris Topelius wrote a poem which Jean Sibelius used for a composition with a political statement, Islossningen i Ulea alv.

Zachris Topelius initially thought of writing a trivial entertainment, but having heard extracts from the opera project at a concert in 1851, he realized that Pacius was writing a grand opera on the theme of salvation, following the early Romantic style of Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischutz and Oberon.

Zachris Topelius wrote the libretto in Swedish, but its subject is emphatically Finnish.

Zachris Topelius wrote the libretto for Prinsessan av Cypern, set by Fredrik Pacius and Lars-Erik Larsson.

Zachris Topelius died in his manor house in Koivuniemi, Sipoo, Finland, where he wrote his greatest works.

Zachris Topelius is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.