Francisco Franco

NAME Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde,  commonly known as Francisco Franco, was also called "El Caudillo" (The Leader) and "El Generalísimo" (The Generalissimo)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Franco was a Spanish general and dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. He led the Nationalist forces to victory in the Spanish Civil War and established a one-party fascist regime.

BIRTH Francisco Franco was born on December 4, 1892, in the Calle Frutos Saavedra in Ferrol, Galicia, northwestern Spain. He was baptized thirteen days later at the military church of San Francisco with the baptismal name Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Franco came from a seafaring family with strong military traditions. His father, Nicolás Franco Salgado-Araújo (1855-1942), was a naval officer who reached the rank of vice admiral (intendente general). The Franco family had produced naval officers for six uninterrupted generations, including several admirals. 

His mother, María del Pardo de Andrade (1865-1934), was from an upper-middle-class Roman Catholic family. Her father, Ladislao Bahamonde Ortega, was the commissar of naval equipment at the Port of El Ferrol. Franco's parents married in 1890 in the Church of San Francisco in El Ferrol. 

Francisco being held by his parents, on the day of his baptism on December 17, 1892

CHILDHOOD Franco's childhood was marked by family instability and a close relationship with his mother. He had two brothers, Nicolás and Ramón, and two sisters, María del Pilar and María de la Paz. 

His father was reportedly a heavy drinker and womanizer, leading to a strained relationship with young Francisco. His mother, on the other hand, provided a stable and religious upbringing.

When Franco was fourteen, his father moved to Madrid following a reassignment and ultimately abandoned his family, marrying another woman. This experience deeply affected Franco, who never overcame his antipathy toward his father. #

Sister Pilar described him as a very quiet and serious boy, physically very thin, with two obsessions: his studies and his mother. His short stature and high-pitched voice reportedly led to him being bullied, which may have contributed to his reserved nature.

Franco strongly identified with his mother, who always wore widow's black once she realized her husband had abandoned her, and learned from her moderation, austerity, self-control, family solidarity, and respect for Catholicism.

EDUCATION  Franco originally intended to follow the family tradition and join the navy, but cutbacks resulting from Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898 reduced available positions. He entered the Infantry Academy at Toledo in 1907 at age 14, making him one of the youngest members of his class. He was short and was bullied for his small size. 

His grades were average, though his good memory meant he seldom struggled academically, and his small stature was a hindrance in physical tests. Franco graduated in July 1910 as a second lieutenant, standing 251st out of 312 cadets in his class.

CAREER RECORD 1910 Entered the army in 1910.

1926 Franco quickly gained a reputation as an effective officer and was promoted to brigadier general on February 3, 1926, making him the youngest general in Europe at age 33

1928 Appointed director of the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, a position he held until 1931 when the Second Spanish Republic closed the academy.

1933-1935 Served as Military Commander of the Balearic Islands.

1935 Appointed Chief of Army Staff  under a right-wing government.

1936 Joined the military revolt against the Republican government in July 1936, initiating the Spanish Civil War. Franco was proclaimed generalísimo and head of state in October 1936.

1939 After winning the Civil War in 1939, he ruled Spain until his death in 1975.

APPEARANCE Franco was short, about 5 feet 4 inches (1.63m), with a broad forehead and a stern expression. His small stature was often noted by both supporters and detractors.

Franco in 1930 by Jalón Ángel - Biblioteca Virtual de Defensa 

FASHION Franco's fashion was predominantly military in nature, reflecting his background and role as a general and head of state. He was almost invariably seen in uniform, often incorporating elements from the Falangist and Carlist movements after the unification of these political factions under his rule. This included the blue shirt of the Falange and the red beret of the Carlists. The regime created specific symbols and visual elements that appeared on uniforms, including the emblem of five arrows joined by a yoke.

CHARACTER Franco was a serious and reserved individual, even from a young age. He was often described as cold and calculating, capable of detaching himself from the realities of war and death. He possessed a strong will and determination, which contributed to his longevity in power. Despite his public stoicism, he could reportedly be sentimental about minor issues.

Franco was described as having "astonishing personal mediocrity" and was a ruler who "constantly procrastinated important decisions, acting reactively rather than proactively". (1)

SPEAKING VOICE Franco had a notably high-pitched voice that caused him to be bullied as a child. His voice was described as causing him difficulties in his youth, contributing to his unprepossessing manner. During his later years, he spoke in a monotone, nasal voice, rarely raising it. His public addresses were stiff and formal, not designed to inspire but to assert control.

SENSE OF HUMOUR He was not known for having a robust sense of humour and was generally described as humourless, though capable of dry sarcasm in private.

Despite his serious demeanor, Franco became the subject of numerous jokes during and after his rule. Spanish oral humor never allowed him to rest, with many Franco jokes circulating throughout his dictatorship and continuing after his death. One famous alleged deathbed joke had Franco hearing crowds outside and asking what they were doing, to which someone replied "The people of Spain have come to say goodbye," and Franco supposedly responded "Why? Are they going somewhere?" (2)

RELATIONSHIPS Franco married María del Carmen Polo y Martínez-Valdés on October 22, 1923, in the church of San Juan el Real of Oviedo. Carmen Polo first met Franco in 1917 when he was posted to Oviedo from Morocco. Despite opposition from her family, they eventually became engaged, though Franco's military career interrupted their marriage plans. King Alfonso XIII served as Franco's best man, represented by General Antonio Losada. 

The couple had one daughter, María del Carmen Franco y Polo, born in 1926, nicknamed Nenuca, Carmencita, and Morita. Franco was known to be a proud parent, though his traditionalist attitudes and increasing responsibilities meant he left much of the child-rearing to his wife.

Franco and Polo 1941 by Vicente Martín - This image belongs to the Foto Car Collection 

MONEY AND FAME Though he lived modestly compared to other dictators, Franco and his family accumulated significant wealth through state privileges and land. At the time of his death he is estimated to have left 60-100 billion pesetas (US$500-US$800 million) tied up in holding companies and real estate. 

His fame, both revered and reviled, was unmatched in mid-20th century Spain.

FOOD AND DRINK Franco ate very simply and was practically teetotal. When he first moved into the Palace of El Pardo, he ate like a king for a year, but after the former monarch's cook retired, he adopted simpler eating habits.  (3)

During Franco's rule, Spain experienced severe food shortages and rationing from 1939 to 1951, known as the "hunger years," which caused the deaths of at least 200,000 Spanish citizens. Franco's economic policies, including autarky (self-sufficiency), contributed to these food shortages.

 He was moderate with alcohol.

MUSIC AND ARTS Franco had a passion for classical music and was known to attend concerts and operas in his free time despite his authoritarian rule. 

Franco used art and music as tools for state propaganda, promoting conservative and Catholic values.  Jazz was initially condemned as "degenerate music" and "anti-Spanish," with the regime banning "so-called black music, swing dances" and compositions in foreign languages. However, after 1945, as the regime shifted toward pro-American propaganda, jazz became more tolerated. Franco's regime used culture and music extensively as propaganda to define its image and shape public opinion. (4)

Franco developed an interest in painting after the Spanish Civil War, reportedly taking it up as a relaxing hobby. He painted primarily landscapes and portraits, and he also copied works of other artists he admired. According to his nephew, Franco would regularly set aside time in the afternoons to paint after his coffee. While his technical ability was considered above most amateur painters, his works have not been recognized as exceptional by art critics or historians.

Franco’s painting ceased around 1961, allegedly after a hunting accident affected his ability to use the spatula, though some suspected he was also beginning to show symptoms of Parkinson’s disease at that time. His painting activity was not widely known to the public during his rule, and none of his works became culturally significant beyond private circles or family collections. (5)

LITERATURE Franco authored a novel under the pseudonym Jaime de Andrade. He wrote Raza (Race) in 1940, described as "part film script, part play, part novel". The work was later adapted into a 1941 film directed by José Luis Sáenz de Heredia. The novel has been characterized as little more than a melodramatic political pamphlet and exemplified totalitarian kitsch aesthetics that suited the Francoist attempt to rewrite Spanish history. Franco wrote this work to create an idealized representation of the man he wished his father had been.

The Franco dictatorship imposed strict censorship on literature and media. The Press Law of 1938 aimed to prevent any publication challenging the government's legitimacy. Authors who wrote against the regime were suppressed, imprisoned, or forced into exile. Franco's regime promoted a fascist narrative through controlled media. 

NATURE The Francoist regime utilized nature for political and nationalistic goals, identifying the Spanish countryside and nature with the "true Spain" and seeing it as essential for the nation's regeneration. This was often tied to an agrarian discourse and autarkic policies aimed at self-sufficiency

Franco himself was a nature lover and environmentalist who preferred fishing to hunting. He would make careful notes whenever he visited places that were bare of trees and bring this to the attention of a government department he created specifically for reforesting Spain. However, the conservation policy that had been developed in Spain during the first third of the twentieth century was dismantled under Franco, and later conservation efforts were limited and utilitarian in nature. (3)

PETS Francisco Franco was known for his love of animals, particularly his pet dogs. He was often seen walking his dogs around the gardens of the Royal Palace in Madrid. 

Franco's artistic works included animal subjects, such as paintings titled "Still Life with Dog" and "Chase Scene with Bear and Dogs".

Chase Scene With Bear and Dogs by Francisco Franco

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Franco’s chief pastimes were hunting and fishing, which he pursued with the same precision he brought to military strategy. 

Less well known was his quiet interest in painting, a private pursuit rarely associated with his public image. 

He was an avid stamp collector, amassing an extensive array of rare and exotic stamps from across the globe.

Like Adolf Hitler, he had a surprising appreciation for visual art, and he frequently watched Western films, which he admired for their themes of order and frontier justice.

Physically active, Franco enjoyed swimming, played football in his youth, and took up golf later in life. 

One of his lifelong pleasures was horseback riding, a passion he maintained from his early officer days to his twilight years as Spain’s aging Caudillo.

SCIENCE AND MATHS During Franco's rule, the regime attempted to control science and integrate it into the National Catholic political order. The regime stressed the spiritual dimension of science and argued for its integration into the Christian scheme of the world. Franco's government created the National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) in 1939 to direct scientific policy. However, the regime's approach to science was often utilitarian, serving military and economic needs of the autarkic state rather than pursuing pure research.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Franco was a devout Catholic who grounded his authority in the belief that he was “El Caudillo por la Gracia de Dios”—The Leader by the Grace of God. He held fast to the traditional values of Catholicism, the sanctity of the family, and strict social order. Franco viewed his opponents not just as political adversaries, but as part of a vast conspiracy involving Freemasons, Jews, and communists, all threatening the soul of Spain.

Throughout his rule, he maintained a tight alliance with the Catholic Church, making Catholicism a cornerstone of Spanish national identity. His regime championed “National Catholicism,” an ideological blend of Catholic integralism, Carlism, and Spanish fascism, enforcing religious orthodoxy and suppressing secular or dissenting thought. (6)

DICTATORSHIP Francisco Franco, a man so famously expressionless he could out-stare a wax figure, ruled Spain with an iron grip—and not a great deal of good humour—from 1939 until his death in 1975. His was a long, peculiar reign, marked by authoritarianism, repression, and a cult of personality so intense it made even the statues look uncomfortable. For nearly four decades, Franco reshaped Spain in his image, which, unfortunately for the Spanish people, meant very few jokes, no dissent, and lots of beige uniforms.

Franco didn’t so much consolidate power as hoard it like a squirrel with a bunker full of acorns. In 1937, well before the civil war had even finished, he cleverly mashed together the Falange Española (a fascist party in all but name) with the ultra-conservative Carlist traditionalists to create the snappily titled FET y de las JONS, which sounds like a law firm but wasn’t. After winning the Spanish Civil War in 1939, he did what any self-respecting autocrat would do: declared martial law, banned opposition, and styled himself “El Caudillo”—which loosely translates to “The Big Cheese, By Divine Right.”

Cabinet ministers did exist, but mostly for decoration. Franco made all the big decisions himself and even some of the small ones, like what was for lunch.

Franco in Reus, 1940

His style of governance made Kafka look like a cheerful liberal. There were mass executions, imprisonments, forced labor, and exile—and that was just for disagreeing with him. Trade unions were banned, opposition parties outlawed, and press freedom became more of a nostalgic concept.

Censorship was so pervasive that even sheet music had to be reviewed for subversive notes. Propaganda, meanwhile, became an art form, presenting Franco as Spain’s savior, and dissenters as dangerous heretics with suspicious moustaches.

Religion played a starring role too. The regime promoted “National Catholicism,” a fervent mix of Church, state, and incense. Catholic values were the law of the land, and if you didn’t agree, there were plenty of quiet prisons available for reflection.

In the 1940s, Spain tried a bold economic policy called autarky, which roughly translates as “we’ll make everything ourselves and hope it works.” It didn’t. Rationing, shortages, and a great deal of grumbling followed. But, as with many things Franco did, he stuck with it for a while—because why not?

Eventually, in the late 1950s, a group of technocrats managed to steer the country toward something called the “Spanish Miracle,” an impressive period of rapid industrial growth that Franco, naturally, took full credit for. Spain modernized, people bought fridges, and tourists discovered the Costa del Sol.

Socially, however, things remained conservative. Divorce was illegal, contraception banned, and women’s roles were basically to look busy at home and say nothing in public.

During World War II, Franco sympathized with the Axis powers—he liked their style—but stopped short of joining in. There is strong evidence that British intelligence paid him off, to the tune of $200 million, to stay neutral. Spain sat out the war, which suited everyone just fine.

After the war, Franco became something of a geopolitical leper, diplomatically isolated and frowned at by Western democracies. This changed in the 1950s, when the Cold War made everyone nostalgic for a good, old-fashioned anti-communist dictator. Franco played the part perfectly, allowed U.S. military bases, and in return got foreign aid and a seat at the United Nations.

Franco clung to power with the tenacity of a barnacle. Even as he aged and became increasingly infirm, he refused to loosen his grip. But he did, in a rare act of strategic foresight, appoint Prince Juan Carlos as his successor, presumably expecting the monarchy to continue his policies.

Instead, upon Franco’s death in 1975, King Juan Carlos I politely ignored the script and guided Spain into democracy. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 put the final nail in the coffin of the dictatorship, though the memories lingered for decades.

Franco’s legacy is still fiercely debated. Some credit him with bringing stability and economic growth; others, with good reason, remember him for the mass repression, brutality, and the stifling of an entire nation’s spirit. What’s undeniable is that he left a deep mark—on Spain’s institutions, on its people, and on its ability to exhale freely again.

POLITICS Franco's political ideology was a blend of traditionalism, nationalism, and fascism, evolving into a highly personalist authoritarian rule known as Francoism. He was anti-communist, anti-liberal, and anti-democratic. He dismantled the Second Spanish Republic and established a highly centralized state with himself as Caudillo (leader). His regime suppressed political opposition, censored the press, and maintained a strict social order. 

While initially aligned ideologically with European fascist movements, his regime adapted over time, particularly during the Cold War, shifting towards a more technocratic and less overtly fascist approach, but always maintaining authoritarian control.

SCANDAL Franco's rule was marked by numerous controversies and scandals. The White Terror under his regime resulted in between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths through executions, forced labor, and concentration camps. 

His family's vast wealth, accumulated during his rule, has been a source of ongoing scandal, with questions about how a man earning €300 per year as head of state could leave such an enormous fortune. The Franco family's continued ownership of properties like the Pazo de Meirás palace has been contested as "plunder" that should be returned to the public.

MILITARY RECORD Franco had a distinguished military career before becoming a dictator. He served in Spanish Morocco from 1912, where he rose rapidly through the ranks. By 1915, he was the youngest captain in the Spanish army. Franco became commander of the Spanish Foreign Legion in 1923 and was promoted to brigadier general in 1926 at age 33, making him the youngest general in Europe. 

Francisco and his brother Ramón in North Africa, 1925

During the Spanish Civil War, Franco led the Nationalist forces to victory, demonstrating careful and systematic military leadership. He was appointed generalísimo and head of state in October 1936.

SPANISH CIVIL WAR The Spanish Civil War, which ran from July 17, 1936, to April 1, 1939, was one of those deeply unhappy chapters in history that manages to be both utterly tragic and staggeringly complicated. It was, at its simplest, a fight between the Republicans, who supported the left-leaning, urban-minded Second Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a grab-bag of monarchists, conservatives, religious hardliners, and people who generally disapproved of fun—all led by a stiff, unsmiling general named Francisco Franco.

Before becoming the man who ruled Spain like a moody grandfather for nearly 40 years, Franco had earned his stripes in colonial Morocco, where he distinguished himself by being extremely efficient, extremely ruthless, and, somehow, always the youngest officer in the room.

When a group of generals attempted a military coup in July 1936 against the elected Republican government, Franco signed on with gusto. The coup itself was only partially successful—Spain, being Spain, decided not to do things the easy way and instead settled into a full-blown civil war. Franco, with his love of hierarchy and knack for logistics, rose rapidly through the Nationalist ranks, eventually becoming the face, spine, and iron will of the movement.

On July 18, 1936, from the sunny comfort of the Canary Islands, Franco’s support for the rebellion was broadcast to the nation. Soon after, he took control of the fearsomely effective Army of Africa, whose tactics had been honed in the brutal colonial campaigns, and became the de facto commander of the southern rebel forces.

By September, he had been named Generalissimo—which sounds like a comic-book villain but actually means "supreme commander"—and was soon head of the Nationalist government, essentially combining the roles of top general, prime minister, and chief PR officer.

The Battle for Madrid, which began later that year, was a prolonged and messy affair. Despite the Nationalists’ best efforts (and lots of bombs), the capital refused to fall. It held out thanks in part to Republican resistance, a dash of Soviet support, and more than a few idealistic international volunteers, known collectively as the International Brigades, who included everyone from earnest poets to Ernest Hemingway.

Meanwhile, Franco’s side enjoyed generous helpings of fascist aid from Nazi Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. The Germans even sent the notorious Condor Legion, who treated the war like a training ground and were responsible for, among other things, bombing Guernica, later immortalized by Picasso in one of the least cheerful paintings ever made.

Over three long and bloody years, Franco’s forces steadily chewed their way through Spain, capturing town after town and slowly tightening the noose around Republican territory. Finally, on April 1, 1939, Franco announced—no doubt with minimal emotion—that the war was over, and he was in charge.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Franco generally enjoyed robust health for most of his life, which contributed to his long reign. However, in his later years, his health significantly declined.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1960s, though this was not made public until 1974. By the late 1960s, Franco's health had noticeably declined, and he began struggling with the disease. 

In 1974, he was hospitalized with thrombosis in his right leg and gastric ulcers. 

His final months were marked by multiple health crises, including heart attacks, gastrointestinal bleeding, and dental problems. 

HOMES Franco's primary residence during his dictatorship was the Royal Palace of El Pardo, where he lived from March 1940 following its restoration. The palace, originally a Habsburg hunting lodge, became the center of Spanish political life under Franco. 

The Franco family spent their summers at the Pazo de Meirás manor house in Galicia, which had formerly belonged to writer Emilia Pardo Bazán and was acquired for Franco through "popular subscription" in 1938. They also used the yacht Azor for fishing trips.

TRAVEL Franco's international travel was limited, particularly during World War II when Spain maintained neutrality. His most famous diplomatic meeting was with Adolf Hitler at Hendaye, France, on October 23, 1940, where they discussed Spain's potential entry into the war. The seven-hour meeting failed to reach agreement on Spain's demands, leading Hitler to famously tell Mussolini afterward: "I prefer to have three or four of my own teeth pulled out than to speak to that man again!" 

Franco and Hitler Meeting at Hendaye, 1940 By Heinrich Hoffmann/Krakow-Warsaw Press Publishing

Franco's wife Carmen Polo traveled abroad more frequently, including trips to Portugal, Rome, and audiences with Pope Pius XII, though Franco never accompanied her on these foreign trips.

DEATH Franco died on November 20, 1975, at La Paz hospital in Madrid from heart failure at age 82. His final illness was prolonged and heavily medicalized, lasting over a month with constant medical intervention. On October 15, 1975, he suffered his first heart attack, followed by additional heart attacks on October 20. He underwent multiple operations, including removal of most of his stomach, and contracted acute peritonitis. By November 19, he was clinically dead, and his family eventually agreed to disconnect life support machines. Franco's death was announced by Prime Minister Carlos Arias Navarro with the words: "Spaniards, Franco has died".

Franco’s body lay in state at the Royal Palace of Madrid from November 21-23 1975, giving tens of thousands of mourners the opportunity to pay their final respects. The lines were long, the atmosphere sombre, and the palace—usually associated with royal ceremony—briefly became a shrine to the man who had ruled Spain for nearly four decades.

The state funeral was held on November 23, marked by a Requiem Mass in the Plaza de Oriente, conducted by Cardinal Marcelo González Martín, the Archbishop of Toledo. The event was steeped in Catholic ritual and Nationalist symbolism. In attendance were King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, senior members of Franco’s regime, and a small group of international dignitaries. These included U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, King Hussein of Jordan, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Imelda Marcos of the Philippines, and General Augusto Pinochet of Chile.

After the ceremonies in Madrid, Franco’s coffin was taken in a military procession to the Valley of the Fallen (Valle de los Caídos), a colossal granite complex northwest of the capital. Built under Franco’s own regime—often with forced labor—the site had long been intended as a symbol of Nationalist victory and Catholic redemption. He was interred beneath a massive granite slab, located behind the high altar of the basilica, in a place of honor.

Franco remained buried at the Valley of the Fallen for more than four decades. However, in October 2019, amid renewed debate about historical memory and Spain’s reckoning with its past, his body was exhumed and reburied in a more discreet location: the Mingorrubio-El Pardo Cemetery in Madrid, where many other figures from his regime are interred. The reburial marked a symbolic shift in Spain’s approach to the legacy of its former dictator.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Francisco Franco has appeared extensively in various forms of media, primarily through archival footage in documentaries, historical films, and television series that cover the Spanish Civil War, his dictatorship, and the transition to democracy. He is often depicted as a historical figure in films and TV shows related to 20th-century Spanish history. 

ACHIEVEMENTS Victory in the Spanish Civil War: He successfully led the Nationalist forces to victory, ending a brutal civil conflict.

Long-lasting Rule: He maintained power for nearly four decades, providing a period of political stability, albeit through authoritarian means.

"Spanish Miracle": He oversaw a period of significant economic growth and modernization in Spain from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, transforming Spain from an agrarian economy to an industrial one.

Avoidance of World War II: He managed to keep Spain officially neutral during World War II, despite strong pressure and ideological alignment with the Axis powers, thus sparing Spain from further devastation after its own civil war.

Restoration of the Monarchy: He meticulously planned the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, designating Juan Carlos I as his successor, which ultimately facilitated Spain's peaceful transition to democracy after his death.

Sources (1) Abandoned Footnotes (2) History Stack Exchange (3) The Making of Madrid (4) Jazz and Biopolitics in the Early Franco Regime (5) Mirador De Les Arts (6) Law & Liberty