Military career and honours of Francisco Franco

The military career of Francisco Franco Bahamonde began on 29 August 1907, when he took the oath as a cadet at the Spanish Toledo Infantry Academy.

On 13 July 1910 he graduated from Infantry Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Spanish Army, in the same promotion as Juan Yagüe, Emilio Esteban Infantes, Camilo Alonso Vega, José Asensio, Lisardo Doval Bravo and Eduardo Sáenz de Buruaga.

From 19 May 1935 to 23 February 1936, Franco was elevated to Chief of Army Staff before the 1936 election moved the leftist Popular Front into power, relegating him to the Canary Islands as Commander of the Archipelago Force.

After initial reluctance, he joined the July 1936 military coup which, after failing to take Spain, sparked the Spanish Civil War.

During the war, he commandeered Spain's colonial army in Africa and after the death of much of the rebel leadership became his faction's only leader.

Coat of Arms of Francisco Franco until 1940
Coat of Arms of Francisco Franco as Head of the Spanish State, depicting the Castilian Bend , the Pillars of Hercules and the Laureate Cross
The Víctor other personal emblem used by Franco
Laureate Grand Cross of Saint Ferdinand , borne by Francisco Franco
Badge of the Tercio (without bars)
Insignia of the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber , reign of Alfonso XIII
Coat of arms of Franco as knight of the Supreme Order of Christ ( Holy See )