Franco: Always Spanish, Never Just History of Spain.

Francisco Franco did not seek to be part of the History of Spain, but rather to preserve its "essence." His actions were understood as a safeguard against the communist threat.

## The Essence Versus History

Francisco Franco understood his role not as an actor in the History of Spain, but as a guardian of its essence. For him, the rebellion was not an option, but a duty to "save" a country that he perceived to be on the brink of annihilation by what he called the "red hordes." His analysis was not centered on historical evolution, but on the intrinsic nature of the homeland. Justice, in his view, preceded Spanishness, and any palpable injustice, such as burned streets or persecution for religious symbols, was a call to action.

## The Military Man Serving the Fatherland

Franco's military mindset drove him to act against what he considered a defeated Spain, but one that could not lose its soul. The coup d'état was conceived as a means to recover this lost essence, not a struggle for historical supremacy. The Civil War, from this perspective, was not a loss of national identity, but a process of recovery. The **Valle de los Caídos** stands as a reminder that while life may be lost defending the homeland, its essence is non-negotiable. The dictatorship was presented as a way to protect the country from communism without resorting to open warfare—a goal that, according to this view, was achieved.

## The Threatened Essence Today

In contrast, there is a critique of the current management of history, viewed as malleable and manipulated by personal interests. The concern centers on the loss of the "essence of the homeland" in favor of elements perceived as external or even hostile, with examples such as the situation in **Ceuta** and the alleged inclusion of "enemies" in the configuration of national identity. The marginalization of institutions and the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) in public life is also criticized.