RIPPERDA, Johan Willem

(1682–1737)

   Diplomat and adven turer. After an unstable political career in his native province of Groningen and the States General, Ripperda became the Repub lic’s ambassador in Spain in 1715. He changed his religion from Ro man Catholicism to Calvinism and back several times when this was suitable for his career. His charming character made him a fa vorite of the Spanish monarchs. He negotiated for them with the Habsburg court in Vienna and became Spain’s first minister and grandeein 1725, though only for a short period. He fell into disgrace and was imprisoned because of his unsuccessful policy and was the victim of the Spanish nobles’ jealousy. Ripperda escaped, however, and fled via Portugal, England, and the Netherlands to Morocco, where he died under unclear circumstances.