MATTIA di LINKÖPING. – Swedish ecclesiastic who lived in the first half of the 14th century. He took part in Magnus Eriksson’s crusade in Russia (1348–49), at the urging of s. Brigida. He is believed to have died of the plague in the epidemic of 1350. M. was s. Brigida’s confessor and spiritual director and later became her devoted follower and defender.
His major work is a Glossa super totam Bibliam, now lost but partly preserved in a Swedish-language version. Other works attributed to him are: Expositio super Apocalypsis, manuscript copies of which are found in Italy and Germany, and Copia exemplorum, a collection of legends and moral tales.
BIBL.: H. Schöck, Illustrerad svensk litteraturhistoria, 2nd ed., Stockholm 1910; F. Hammerich, En skolastiker og en bibeltheolog, Copenhagen 1914; I. Coleyn, s. V. Stoccolma, Stockholm 1914; F. Böök and others, Svensk litteraturhistoria, ibid. 1920, pp. 59–62. Augusto Guidi