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Military career and honours of Francisco Franco

The military career of Francisco Franco Bahamonde began on 29 August 1907, when he took the oath as a cadet at the Spanish Toledo Infantry Academy. On 13 July 1910 he graduated from Infantry Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Spanish Army, in the same promotion as Juan Yagüe, Emilio Esteban Infantes, Camilo Alonso Vega, José Asensio, Lisardo Doval Bravo and Eduardo Sáenz de Buruaga. He rose through the ranks over the next twenty years and became one of the most important Spanish commissioned officers of the Rif War. On 31 January 1926 Franco, aged 33, became the youngest general in all of Europe. In January 1928 he was then chosen to direct the newly formed General Military Academy in Zaragoza. From 19 May 1935 to 23 February 1936, Franco was elevated to Chief of Army Staff before the 1936 election moved the leftist Popular Front into power, relegating him to the Canary Islands as Commander of the Archipelago Force. After initial reluctance, he joined the July 1936 military coup which, after failing to take Spain, sparked the Spanish Civil War.

During the war, he commandeered Spain's colonial army in Africa and after the death of much of the rebel leadership became his faction's only leader. On 1 October 1936, in Burgos, Franco was appointed Generalissimo and Head of State. He consolidated all nationalist parties into the FET y de las JONS (creating a one-party state). Three years later the Nationalists declared victory and thereafter ruled over Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975 assuming the title Caudillo.

Styles

  • 3 August30 September 1936: "The Most Excellent Divisional general Francisco Franco Bahamonde, Member of the National Defence Board."
  • 30 September1 October 1936: "His Excellency the Head of the State Government and Generalissimo of the Armies.
  • 1 October19 December 1936: "His Excellency the Head of the State and Generalissimo of the Armies.
  • 19 December 1936† 20 November 1975 : "His Excellency the Head of the State, Caudillo of Spain and the Crusade, Generalissimo of the Armies.

Nicknames

  • Homo missus a Deo (A man sent from God).
  • Providential man
  • Sentinel of the West
  • Crusader of the West
  • Prince of the armies
  • The cleanest sword of the West/Europe
  • Supreme captain of the Race
  • Undefeated Caesar
  • Saviour of the Fatherland/Spain
  • The only victor against Marxism on the field of battle
  • The youngest general in Europe
  • Little light of El Pardo

Dates of rank

List of assignment

  • 23 July 19106 February 1912: Second Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Regiment «Zamora»
  • 19 February 191215 April 1913: Second and First Lieutenant, 68th Infantry Regiment «África»
  • 15 April 191326 March 1915: First Lieutenant, 1st Indigenous Regular Forces of Melilla
  • 26 March7 April 1915: Captain, Square for Service Eventualities in Ceuta
  • 7 April 19151 January 1917: Captain, 1st Indigenous Regular Forces of Melilla
  • 1 January1 March 1917: Captain, 1st Group of Indigenous Regular Forces of Tétouan
  • 1 March 191727 September 1920 Commandant, 3rd Infantry Regiment «Príncipe»
  • 27 September 19208 June 1923: Chief of the 1st Flag of the Foreigners Tercio
  • 8 June 192311 February 1926: Chief of the Volunteers Tercio
  • 29 April 19268 January 1928: Chief of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Division
  • 8 January 192830 June 1931: Director of the General Military Academy
  • 5 February 193229 March 1934: Chief of the 15th Infantry Brigade
  • 29 March 193415 February 1935: Balearics General Commander
  • 15 February19 May 1935: High Chief of the Military Force in Morocco
  • 19 May 193523 February 1936: Chief of Army Staff
  • 23 February25 July 1936: Canary General Commander
  • 25 July27 August 1936: General of the Army in Morocco and the Southern Spain
  • 27 August30 September 1936: Chief of the Military Force in Morocco and the Expeditionary Force
  • 30 September 1936† 20 November 1975: Commander-in-chief of the Armies/Spanish Armed Forces

Awards

Local government

Private corporations

  • Fútbol Club Barcelona:
  • Palau Blagurana Inauguration Commemorative Gold Medal (1971) (HW)
  • Club 75 Anniversary Gold Medal (1974) (HW)

Scholastic

Honorary doctorates

Honorific eponyms

Localities

Institutions and public infrastructures

Foundation

Awards

  • National Literature Prize «Francisco Franco» (1940-1975)
  • Spanish National Research Council (Suppressed)
  • «Francisco Franco» Prizes for Spanish Literature
  • «Francisco Franco» Prize for Sciences
  • «Francisco Franco» Prize for Individual Technical Investigation
  • «Francisco Franco» Prize for Team Technical Research

Other

See also

Notes

  • (HW): Honour posthumously withdrawn
  • (HEW): Honorific eponym withdrawn

References

Bibliography