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General Alfonso Armada obituary General Alfonso Armada obituary
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On 23 February 1981, General Alfonso Armada was just a few hours from becoming prime minister of Spain – in his own mind, at least. He was one of the three main conspirators in an attempted coup, when Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero seized the Spanish parliament with bursts of gunfire and General Jaime Milans del Bosch brought out tanks on to the streets of Valencia.On 23 February 1981, General Alfonso Armada was just a few hours from becoming prime minister of Spain – in his own mind, at least. He was one of the three main conspirators in an attempted coup, when Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero seized the Spanish parliament with bursts of gunfire and General Jaime Milans del Bosch brought out tanks on to the streets of Valencia.
Tejero and Milans were unreconstructed Francoist soldiers. However, Armada, who has died aged 93, was a much more complex character. Javier Cercas, in his masterly account of the coup, The Anatomy of a Moment, describes him as a "courtier ... scheming, elusive, haughty, ambitious and sanctimonious, apparently liberal and profoundly traditionalist, an expert on protocol, pretence and the tricks of palace life".Tejero and Milans were unreconstructed Francoist soldiers. However, Armada, who has died aged 93, was a much more complex character. Javier Cercas, in his masterly account of the coup, The Anatomy of a Moment, describes him as a "courtier ... scheming, elusive, haughty, ambitious and sanctimonious, apparently liberal and profoundly traditionalist, an expert on protocol, pretence and the tricks of palace life".
Armada was born into a Catholic, aristocratic family. His father, the marquess of Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, a title Armada inherited, was a close friend of King Alfonso XIII, who reigned till the start of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. At the age of 17, Armada volunteered to join the rebels led by Francisco Franco in the Spanish civil war. After Franco's 1939 victory, he joined the Blue division, the Spanish contingent that fought alongside the Nazis in the second world war, and spent 18 months at the siege of Leningrad.Armada was born into a Catholic, aristocratic family. His father, the marquess of Santa Cruz de Rivadulla, a title Armada inherited, was a close friend of King Alfonso XIII, who reigned till the start of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. At the age of 17, Armada volunteered to join the rebels led by Francisco Franco in the Spanish civil war. After Franco's 1939 victory, he joined the Blue division, the Spanish contingent that fought alongside the Nazis in the second world war, and spent 18 months at the siege of Leningrad.
Back in Spain he became a military teacher and in 1955 started to give classes to Prince Juan Carlos, then 15 years old, who had been brought to Madrid to be trained as Franco's heir. In 1965, Armada joined Juan Carlos's staff and, on Franco's death in November 1975, when Juan Carlos became king, Armada was appointed secretary to his household.Back in Spain he became a military teacher and in 1955 started to give classes to Prince Juan Carlos, then 15 years old, who had been brought to Madrid to be trained as Franco's heir. In 1965, Armada joined Juan Carlos's staff and, on Franco's death in November 1975, when Juan Carlos became king, Armada was appointed secretary to his household.
A passionate monarchist, Armada was also a loyal Franco supporter. The reforming prime minister Adolfo Suárez forced him out of his post in 1977. Three years later, Suárez had him posted away from Madrid to Lleida, in Catalonia, where Armada began a year of hectic plotting. The new democracy was in deep trouble and the Basque liberation movement Eta was killing military personnel weekly. Assailed by economic crisis, Suárez's government was falling apart. Calls were common for "a touch on the tiller", ie a bloodless intervention to "correct" the failing democracy.A passionate monarchist, Armada was also a loyal Franco supporter. The reforming prime minister Adolfo Suárez forced him out of his post in 1977. Three years later, Suárez had him posted away from Madrid to Lleida, in Catalonia, where Armada began a year of hectic plotting. The new democracy was in deep trouble and the Basque liberation movement Eta was killing military personnel weekly. Assailed by economic crisis, Suárez's government was falling apart. Calls were common for "a touch on the tiller", ie a bloodless intervention to "correct" the failing democracy.
On 29 January 1981, Suárez resigned and Juan Carlos had Armada recalled to Madrid to become second-in-command of the army. The king justified this later by saying that he wanted to know at first hand what the military were plotting, but this promotion and several meetings with the king led Armada to believe that he again had the monarch's ear.On 29 January 1981, Suárez resigned and Juan Carlos had Armada recalled to Madrid to become second-in-command of the army. The king justified this later by saying that he wanted to know at first hand what the military were plotting, but this promotion and several meetings with the king led Armada to believe that he again had the monarch's ear.
After Tejero seized the congress on the evening of 23 February, the king refused to receive Armada at the palace. Armada then went to the congress, publicly to negotiate with Tejero and protect the kidnapped members of parliament, but probably to get the MPs to agree to a "government of national salvation", with Armada at its head. It was an idea modelled on De Gaulle's 1958 coming to power, when a coup threat persuaded frightened parliamentarians to replace the government.After Tejero seized the congress on the evening of 23 February, the king refused to receive Armada at the palace. Armada then went to the congress, publicly to negotiate with Tejero and protect the kidnapped members of parliament, but probably to get the MPs to agree to a "government of national salvation", with Armada at its head. It was an idea modelled on De Gaulle's 1958 coming to power, when a coup threat persuaded frightened parliamentarians to replace the government.
Here the conspirators fell out. Tejero was hostile to Armada's "soft coup" with socialists, and even a communist, brought into a national government. He wanted a return to full dictatorship and threw Armada out. The general was later arrested, sentenced to 30 yearsin prison and expelled from the army.Here the conspirators fell out. Tejero was hostile to Armada's "soft coup" with socialists, and even a communist, brought into a national government. He wanted a return to full dictatorship and threw Armada out. The general was later arrested, sentenced to 30 yearsin prison and expelled from the army.
Released in 1988 on grounds of ill health, he spent his retirement growing camelias in the gardens of his estate at Rivadulla, in Galicia, and protesting to the end his innocence. Released in 1988 on grounds of ill health, he spent his retirement growing camellias in the gardens of his estate at Rivadulla, in Galicia, and protesting to the end his innocence.
Armada is survived by his wife, María Francisca Díez de Rivera, and their 10 children.Armada is survived by his wife, María Francisca Díez de Rivera, and their 10 children.
• Alfonso Armada Comyn, soldier, born 12 February 1920; died 1 December 2013• Alfonso Armada Comyn, soldier, born 12 February 1920; died 1 December 2013
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