Pedro Sainz Rodríguez

As a friend of Franco he was instrumental in convincing him to join in the coup attempt of José Sanjurjo, Emilio Mola and other right-wing generals that led to the Spanish Civil War.^[5] A close associate of Mola, he shared his ally's belief that Franco's tenure at the head of the nationalists would be a short one designed only to take advantage of Franco's personal popularity.^[6]

Despite his personal reservations about his leadership, Sainz Rodríguez was appointed

Increasingly distant from Franco, he was even accused by el caudillo of organising international criticism of Spain in a Masonic plot with Santiago Montero Díaz, a dissident from the Falange wing although Sainz Rodríguez had no link.^[14] Despite the lack of evidence, Franco would keep repeating his allegations of Freemasonry against Sainz Rodríguez.^[15] Indeed, when the staunch Falangist Mauricio Carlavilla produced the book Anti-España 1959, which criticised the monarchist cause as a tool of Freemasonry, Franco indicated to Juan that he shared many of its views because of the prominence of Sainz Rodríguez in monarchism.^[16] Juan, however, rejected Franco's opinions and retained Sainz Rodríguez as a close advisor.^[17]

Later years

Sainz Rodríguez became noted as a prolific writer on the history of spirituality in Spain, producing such works as Historica de la literatura mística en España (1984) and the four volume Antología de la literatura espiritual español (1980-5).^[18] His autobiography came out after Franco's death and reflected the deterioration between Franco and himself. Indeed, in keeping with the memoirs of many of his contemporaries, it largely dismissed El Caudillo as a bland and mediocre individual.^[19]

Notes

References