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[[Image:Francisco Franco.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Image:Francisco Franco.jpg|right|200px]]

Generalissimo '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde''' ("El Caudillo") was a soldier and politician who served as the [[fascist]] head of state of [[Spain]] from April 1, 1939 until his death on November 20, 1975. He was also the head of the Spanish government from January 30, 1938 to June 8, 1973. He had previously been an officer in the Spanish army, and had been the youngest person in Europe to be appointed to the rank of General since [[Napoleon]].

Generalissimo '''Francisco Franco Bahamonde''' ("El Caudillo") was a soldier and politician who served as the [[fascist]] head of state of [[Spain]] from April 1, 1939 until his death on November 20, 1975. He was also the head of the Spanish [[government]] from January 30, 1938 to June 8, 1973. He had previously been an officer in the Spanish army, and had been the youngest person in [[Europe]] to be appointed to the rank of General since [[Napoleon]].

Franco gained power through an attempted military coup d'etat in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's forces fought the elected communist government for three years before finally defeating them outside [[Madrid]] on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain. His regime is generally recognised as having rested on the support of a number of stalwart elements in Spanish society - the army, the [[Roman Catholic Church]], rural landowners, and the Falange political party.

Franco gained power through an attempted military coup d'etat in 1936 that developed quickly into the [[Spanish Civil War]]. Franco's forces fought the elected [[communist]] government for three years before finally defeating them outside [[Madrid]] on April 1, 1939. With the fall of Madrid, Franco assumed control of Spain. His regime is generally recognised as having rested on the support of a number of stalwart elements in Spanish society - the army, the [[Roman Catholic Church]], rural landowners, and the [[Falange]] political party.

Franco ruled Spain as a dictator until his death in 1975. His successor, [[Juan Carlos]], reversed many of Franco's policies.

Franco ruled Spain as a dictator until his death in 1975. His successor, [[Juan Carlos]], reversed many of Franco's policies.