Notes on the ceremonial Franco appointment as head of state

Abstract

Since the military uprising occurred on July 18, 1936 and until several weeks passed, the generals who supported him were unclear if it was more advisable to establish whether or not the unification of the military command, as a way of getting a better strategy the victory of the civil war has just begun. It was on September 21 when the decision to entrust the leadership of the army to a single general, Francisco Franco, who became "generalissimo of the national forces of land, sea and air and commanding general of the armies of operations" was adopted. From that moment, it remained to realize the powers attached lead the charge of "generalissimo". After several discussions, Franco took over the presidency on 1 October in the Captaincy General of Burgos, in a ceremony in which the president of the National Defense Council proceeded to transmit the power. In this communication it is to analyze the details of this ceremony, the first words of Franco as head of state brand and the impact all this had on the press of the time.