[1][2] Fernández de Villa-Abrille was head of the II Organic Division of the army, based in Seville and in command in Andalusia, at the time of the July 1936 coup that led to the Civil War.
In April, Queipo de Llano had visited the general - who was an old friend - to ask for his support in a coup but the request was rejected.
Despite the visit, Fernández de Villa-Abrille insisted to local and national Republicans that there was no rebel activity in his garrison.
On 7 June, all commanding officers swore allegiance to the Republic before Mariano Ruiz Funez, the minister for agriculture, when he visited Seville.
The general wavered, and despite his passivity and that of several commanders under his orders, the senior staff of the II Organic Division was arrested and prosecuted.