The Siege of Leiden began in the fall of 1573 when Spanish forces, under the command of Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, set out to recapture the city which had declared allegiance to the Protestant insurgents against Spanish Catholic rule. By 1574, the population of Leiden was suffering from starvation, with reports of extreme hunger and desperation among its citizens. As morale dwindled, the city was determined to withstand the siege, relying heavily on resistance efforts spearheaded by local leaders such as Willem van Oranje. The Watergeuzen, a group of Dutch rebels with naval prowess, became instrumental by employing their tactical knowledge of the region's waterways and dykes. They fought not just for Leiden but for the broader cause of independence from Spain. On 3 October, the Watergeuzen executed a bold plan: they managed to breach the dikes, releasing water from the nearby Haarlemmermeer. The resultant flooding created insurmountable obstacles for the Spanish troops, who could not cope with the sudden inundation. The Spanish armies, already stretched thin and demoralized, were forced to retreat, thus lifting the siege that had lasted nearly a year.