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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. Franco then assumed control of Spain. His regime 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. Franco then assumed control of Spain. His regime 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, King [[Juan Carlos]], reversed most of Franco's policies after a period of transition that led to the approval of a democratic constitution in 1978.

During his rule, Spain (known as El Estado Español: "The Spanish State) was officially a monarchy, but with the position of monarch unfilled. Prince Juan Carlos was named as the heir designate, but Franco never allowed him to assume the monarchy during the former's lifetime. After Franco's death, Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975 lead Spain through a transition period, prior to the creation of a democratic constitution in 1978.

 

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