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However, by the end of the 16th century Spain’s position at the centre of the world stage was under threat. A series of wars in Europe depleted Spain’s credibility as well as the state coffers: by the late 17th century Spanish power was in free fall. It remained a spent force into the 19th century, and yet further violent conflict in the early 20th century led to General Francisco Franco (‘El Caudillo’) sweeping into power in 1936.

Franco’s crusade

Franco’s ‘crusade’ to re-establish the traditional order in Spain – the Spanish Civil War – lasted three years, during which an estimated 500,000 Spaniards lost their lives. The eventual victory of the Nationalists in 1939 led to Franco’s consolidation and centralisation of power and the establishment of an authoritarian state that remained until his death in 1975.

A monument to victims of the Civil War close to Ronda

Franco had hoped that King Juan Carlos, who he’d appointed as his successor prior to his death, would continue to govern much in his image; but the young king knew which way the tide was running and immediately began to facilitate the creation of a new constitution for Spain and, along with it, parliamentary democracy. Andalucía, as was the case for several other regions of Spain, saw the creation of an autonomous Junta, or government, based in Sevilla.