Governor of Haarlem at the time of the Spanish siege (1572), born in Winssum, N Netherlands. He called a general assembly of citizens who decided to defend the town. He led the resistance and was beheaded by Don Frederick (Alva's son) after the town's surrender.
Wigbolt Ripperda (1535?-1573) was the city governor of Haarlem when the city was under siege by the Spanish army in the Eighty Years' War.
Biography
Wigbolt Ripperda was the son of Focko Ripperda and Clara van Ewsum, and born in Winsum.
Wigbolt studied in Geneve and Orleans, together with his brother Onno.
When he returned to Winsum he was involved in the wave of iconoclasm in the Netherlands (the Beeldenstorm).
Wigbolt joined the army of the Prince of Orange, the geuzen, and became hopman .
On December 4th, a week before the siege started, Ripperda 'cleaned' the Sint-Bavokerk of all catholic symbols.
Siege of Haarlem
When it became clear that a large Spanish army under command of Don Fadrique was approaching the city he inspired the citizens and municipality of Haarlem not to give in to the demands of the Spanish king, but to fight and defend the city.
The city stayed loyal to the Prince of Orange and resisted the Spanish army in a 7-months siege.
Death
Ripperda was captured together with other soldiers and imprisoned in a church in Haarlem.
Although the city was defeated, the siege of Haarlem had been so exhausting for the Spanish army that in the Siege of Alkmaar they were defeated.
His brother Onno died on June 17th, 1580.
A number of streets and buildings in Haarlem and Winsum are called after Ripperda.
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