Francisco Franco Bahamonde (December 4, 1892 – November 20, 1975) is a Spanish general who leads the Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War and thereafter rules over Spain from 1939 to 1975 as a dictator, assuming the title Caudillo.

This period in Spanish history, from the Nationalist victory to Franco's death, is commonly known as Francoist Spain or the Francoist dictatorship.

Born in Ferrol, Spain into an upper-class military family, Franco serves in the Spanish Army as a cadet in the Toledo Infantry Academy from 1907 to 1910.

While serving in Morocco, he rises through the ranks to become brigadier general in 1926, aged thirty-three, becoming the youngest general in Spain.

Two years later Franco becomes the director of the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

As a conservative and monarchist, Franco regrets the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Republic in 1931.

He is devastated by the closing of his Academy, but nevertheless continues his service in the Republican Army.

His career redoubles after the right-wing CEDA and PRR win the 1933 election empowering him to lead the suppression of the 1934 uprising in Asturias.

Franco is briefly elevated to Chief of Army Staff before the 1936 election moves the leftist Popular Front into power, relegating him to the Canary Islands.

Two years later Franco, after initial reluctance, joins a military coup which, after failing to take Spain, sparks the Spanish Civil War.

During the war, he commandeers Spain's colonial army in Africa and after the death of much of the rebel leadership becomes  his faction's only leader, later appointed Generalissimo and Head of State in 1936.

He consolidated all nationalist parties into the FET y de las JONS (creating a one-party state).

Three years later the Nationalists declare victory, which extends Franco's dictatorship over Spain through a period of repression of political opponents.

His dictatorship's use of forced labor, concentration camps, and executions leads to between thirty thousand and fifty thousand deaths.

Combined with wartime killings, this brings the death toll of the White Terror to between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand.

In post-war Spain, Franco rules with more power than any Spanish leader before or since and develops a cult of personality around his rule by founding the Movimiento Nacional.

During the Second World War he maintains Spanish neutrality but supports the Axis—whose members Italy and Germany have supported him during the Civil War—in various ways, damaging the country's international reputation.

During the start of the Cold War, Franco lifts Spain out of its mid-nineteenth century economic depression through technocratic and economically liberal policies, presiding over a period of rampant growth known as the "Spanish miracle".

At the same time, his regime transitions from being totalitarian to authoritarian with limited pluralism and becomes a leader in the anti-Communist movement, garnering support from the West, particularly the United States.

The dictatorship softens and Luis Carrero Blanco becomes Franco's éminence grise, whose role expands after Franco struggles with Parkinson's disease in the 1960s.

In 1973 Franco resigns as prime minister – separated from the head of state office since 1966 – due to advanced age and illness, but remaina in power as the latter and commander-in-chief.

Franco dies in 1975, aged eighty-two, and is entombed in the Valle de los Caídos

He restores the monarchy in his final years, being succeeded by Juan Carlos as King of Spain, who, in turn, leads the Spanish transition to democracy.

The legacy of Franco in Spanish history remains controversial as the nature of his dictatorship changes over time.

His reign is marked by both brutal repression, with thousands killed, and economic prosperity, which greatly improves the quality of life in Spain.

His dictatorial style proves highly adaptable, which enables wide-sweeping social and economic reform, while consistent pursuits during his reign center on authoritarianism, nationalism, national catholicism, anti-freemasonry, and anti-communism.