Miguel Primo de Rivera

Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja (January 8, 1870 - March 16, 1930) was a Spanish military official who ruled Spain as a dictator from 1923 to 1930, ending the turno system of alternating parties. He was raised to power with the help of the latifundists. He was recognized by Alfonso XIII of Spain, who named him Prime Minister.

Primo de Rivera banned all parties, though some survived clandestinely. Then he founded Unión Patriótica, creating a one party system. During his rule, the philosopher Miguel de Unamuno was confined to Fuerteventura island. Unamuno escaped and continued his opposition labor.

He eventually lost the support of the military and stepped down in January 1930. A republic was established a little more than a year later. A few months after the end of his rule, he died in Paris.

His son, the lawyer José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founded the totalitarian party Falange. His daughter founded the female branch of Falange.