Sparre participated in Charles XII's campaign 1700–09 in the Great Northern War, for example in the battle at the Düna, the battle of Kliszów, the battle of Fraustadt and the battle of Poltava. He avoided surrender at Perevolochna, escaping with Charles XII to Bender, where he commanded the remaining Swedish force after King Charles had returned to Sweden in 1714. Sparre and the men reached Sweden the following year. Sparre was a talented amateur artist and is represented at, among other, Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.