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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.

== See also ==

== See also ==