Wigbolt Ripperda led Haarlem during the siege of Haarlem, a months-long military war of attrition that lasted from December 1572 to July 1573 and in which thousands lost their lives. After Ripperda together with - among others - Simon Kenau Daughter Hasselaer had defended the city for seven monhs against Spanish troops, the exhausted population of Haarem gave on, on Juli 12, 1573. On July 16 Ripperda was beheaded at the Market Square and some hunreds oh his supporters were murdered.