The Legacy of Francisco Franco

How did the once submissive Lieutenant Francisco Franco Bahamonde rise through the ranks of the Spanish Army to become one of the world s longest reigning dictators in history? This insight into the development of Franco charts his early life from a loyal military pawn to a reluctant saviour and ultimately to the ruthless totalitarian as he is now known to be. Throughout this work, the key influences that shaped the policies of his brutal regime will be revealed. Most notably, the great influence and might of the Catholic Church who gave weight to Franco at crucial moments in his rise to dictator. The Church also played a pivotal role in carving his values and affected his legislative decisions, which permeated every aspect of Spanish life and Spanish morals. And yet, despite his endeavour to ensure that this legacy of draconian measures would continue after his death, Franco's protégé had other ideas thus the Transition to Democracy took flight. This narrative portrays how, in the following 30 years, Spain emerged from the oppressive shadow of the Franco dictatorship to become one of the most liberal thinking societies in the world.