Captain General (Spanish: Capitán General) has been the highest rank in the Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra) since the 18th century. A five-star rank with NATO code OF-10, it is equivalent to a field marshal of the armies of numerous countries, a general of the Army of the United States, a captain general of the Spanish Navy (Armada Española) or a Captain general of the Air Force in the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio). A Captain General's insignia consists of two command sticks under five four-pointed stars below the Royal Crown.
| Captain general of the Army Capitán General | |
|---|---|
 Rank flag | |
 Army Service Uniform shoulder strap with the rank of Captain general of the Spanish Army. | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Service branch | Spanish Army |
| Abbreviation | CG |
| Rank | Five-star rank |
| NATO rank code | OF-10 |
| Non-NATO rank | O-11 |
| Formation | c. 1714 |
| Next lower rank | General of the Army |
| Equivalent ranks | Captain general of the Navy (N) Captain general of the Air Force (AF) |
A personal rank of captain general was created in the Spanish Army (and Navy) as the highest rank in the hierarchy, not unlike the Marechal de France. Since King Charles IV's reign (1788–1808), the monarchs used captain general insignia when wearing uniform. Briefly abolished by the Second Spanish Republic (except one honorary promotion), it was restored by Nationalist Spain in 1938; Francisco Franco himself was the only officer of this rank. The effective rank was reserved to the reigning monarch. A few posthumous honorary promotions and honorary promotions of retired officers to this rank were also made, such as José Moscardó Ituarte (1956), Agustín Muñoz Grandes (1957), Camilo Alonso Vega (1969) or Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado (1994). Some members of the Spanish Royal Family were promoted to the rank after periods of service and Queen Isabella II appointed her consort, Francis, Duke of Cádiz (1846). Two foreign monarchs, Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Wilhelm II, German Emperor, and four distinguished foreign military officers also held the honour.
Insignia history
edit-
19th century -
Early 20th century – 1931 -
1931–1939 declared to be abolished -
1939–1943 -
1943–1975 -
1975–1986 -
1986–1999 -
1999–present
List of Captains general
edit| Date of promotion |
Image |
Name and style |
Dead/Annulled |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1763 |  |
Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, 10th Count of Aranda | † 1798 | |
| 1777 |  |
Pedro Antonio de Cevallos Cortés y Calderón | † 1778 | |
| 1783 |  |
Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon 4th Duke of Crillon and 1st Duke of Mahon | † 1796 | |
| 14 December 1788 |  |
King Charles IV | 19 March 1808 (Abdication) |
Ex officio |
| 1793 |  |
Antonio Ricardos y Carrillo de Albornoz | † 13 March 1794 | |
| 25 May 1793 |  |
Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria, Prince of the Peace | 19 March 1808 | Generalissimo (1801–1808) |
| 1794 |  |
Honorato Ignacio de Glimes de Brabante, Count Glimes de Brabante | † 1804 | |
| 1794 | |
José Carlos Álvarez de Bohórquez y Molina, Marquis of Ruchena | † ? | |
| 1794 | |
Martín Antonio Álvarez de Sotomayor y Flores, Count of Colomera | † 1819 | |
| 1795 | |
Manuel de Negrete y de la Torre,Count of Campo de Alange | † 1818 | |
| 1795 |  |
José Ramón de Urrutia y de las Casas | † 1803 | |
| 1799 |  |
Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca, 1st Marquis of Branciforte | † 1812 | |
| 1806 | |
Ventura Caro y Fontes | † 1809 | |
| 19 March 1808 |  |
King Ferdinand VII | † 29 September 1833[note 1] | Ex officio |
| 1808 | |
Vicente María de Vera de Aragón y Enríquez de Navarra, Duke of La Roca and Marquis of Sofraga | † 1813 | |
| 1808 |  |
Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén | † 24 September 1852 | |
| 1808 | |
Vicente María de Acevedo y Pola-Navia | † November 1808 | |
| 1808 | |
Joaquín de Navia-Osorio y Miranda, Marquis of Santa Cruz de Marcenado and Viscount of Puerto | † 1816 | |
| 1809 | |
Rafael Vasco y del Campo, Count of la Conquista de las Islas Batanes | † 1810 | |
| 1809 |  |
Gregorio García de Cuesta y Fernández de Celis | † 26 November 1811 | |
| 1809 |  |
José Rebolledo de Palafox y Melci, 1st Duke of Zaragoza | † 15 February 1847 | |
| 1809 | |
Ventura Escalante y Bruen | † 1811 | |
| 1810 |  |
Pedro Caro, 3rd Marquis of La Romana | † 23 January 1811 | |
| 1811 |  |
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington | † 14 September 1852 | Ad honorem |
| 1811 |  |
William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford | † 8 January 1854 | Ad honorem |
| 1811 |  |
Joaquín Blake y Joyes | † 27 April 1827 | |
| 1811 |  |
Claude-Anne de Rouvroy de Saint Simon, Marquis of Saint Simon and Montblerú | † 27 February 1819 |
Émigré and Spanish Grandee. |
| 1816 |  |
José Manuel de Ezpeleta, 1st Count of Ezpeleta de Beire | † 1823 | |
| 1816 | |
Pedro Mendinueta y Múzquiz | † 1825 | |
| 1816 | |
Ramón de Osorio y Patiño, 4th Marquis of Castelar | † 1817 | |
| 1816 |  |
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa, 1st Marquis of La Concordia | † 31 July 1821 | |
| 1823 |  |
Francisco Javier de Elio y Olondriz | † 1822 | |
| 1823 |  |
Francisco de Eguía, 1st Count of the Real Aprecio | † 6 January 1827 | President of the Provisional Board of Spain and the Indies |
| 1824 |  |
Pedro de Alcántara Álvarez de Toledo, 13th Duke of the Infantado | † 27 November 1841 |
|
| 1824 |  |
Joaquín Ibáñez, Baron de Eroles | † 22 August 1825 | |
| 1825 | |
Juan de Henestrosa y Orcasitas | † 1831 | |
| 1827 |  |
José Miguel de Carvajal-Vargas, 2nd Duke of San Carlos | † 1828 |
Secretary of state (1814) |
| 1831 |  |
Francisco Fernández de Córdoba, 1st Duke of Alagón | † 1841 | |
| 1 May 1838 |  |
Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara | † 8 January 1879 |
|
| 9 October 1841 |  |
José Ramón Rodil, 1st Marquis of Rodil | † 20 February 1853 |
|
| 19 August 1843 |  |
Juan José Nieto y Aguilar, 2nd Marquis of Monsalud | † 28 February 1851 | |
| 5 January 1844 |  |
Prudencio de Guadalfajara y Aguilera, duque de Castroterreño | † 16 June 1855 |
|
| 5 January 1844 |  |
Ramón María Narváez, 1st Duke of Valencia | † 23 April 1868 |
|
| 10 October 1846 |  |
Francis, King Consort | 19 September 1868 (Abolition of monarchy) † 17 April 1902 |
|
| 21 May 1849 |  |
Manuel Gutiérrez de la Concha e Irigoyen, 1st Marquis of Duero | † 27 June 1874 | |
| 19 November 1852 |  |
Pedro Villacampa y Maza de Lizana | † 27 December 1854 | |
| 30 July 1854 |  |
Evaristo Fernández de San Miguel y Valledor, 1st Duke of San Miguel | † 29 May 1862 | |
| 30 July 1854 |  |
Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan | † 5 November 1867 |
|
| 18 July 1856 |  |
Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre | † 25 November 1885 |
|
| 5 January 1858 |  |
Antoine, Duke of Montpensier | December 1870[note 2] |
|
| 10 October 1867 |  |
Juan de la Pezuela y Cevallos, 1st Count of Cheste | † 1 November 1906 | |
| 24 April 1868 |  |
Manuel Pavía y Lacy, 1st Marquis de Novaliches | † 22 October 1896 | |
| 24 April 1868 |  |
José Gutiérrez de la Concha, 1st Marquis of Havana | † 5 November 1895 |
|
| 30 September 1868 |  |
Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos | † 30 December 1870 |
|
| 16 November 1870 |  |
King Amadeo | 11 February 1873 (Abdication) |
Ex officio
|
| 1 May 1874 |  |
Juan de Zavala, 1st Marquis of Sierra Bullones | † 29 December 1879 |
|
| 29 December 1874 |  |
King Alfonso XII | † 25 November 1885 |
|
| 21 August 1875[2] |  |
Ramón Cabrera y Griñó, 1st duke of the Maestrazgo | † 24 May 1877 | |
| 27 March 1876 |  |
Jenaro Quesada, 1st Marquis of Miravalles | † 19 January 1889 |
|
| 27 March 1876 |  |
Arsenio Martínez-Campos y Antón | † 23 September 1892 | Ad honorem |
| 7 July 1878 |  |
Joaquín Jovellar y Soler | † 16 April 1892 | Ad honorem |
| 29 July 1892 |  |
Manuel Pavía y Rodríguez de Alburquerque | † 4 January 1895 | Ad honorem |
| 22 January 1895 |  |
José López Domínguez | † 17 October 1911 |
|
| 16 May 1895 |  |
Ramón Blanco y Erenas, 1st Marquis de Peña Plata | † 4 April 1906 | Ad honorem |
| 14 November 1895 |  |
Fernando Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte, 1st Marquis of Estella | † 23 May 1921 |
|
| 17 May 1902 |  |
King Alfonso XIII | 14 April 1931 (Second Spanish Republic established)[note 3] |
|
| 7 April 1907 |  |
Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom[3] | † 6 May 1910 |
|
| 23 January 1910 |  |
Camilo García de Polavieja y del Castillo-Negrete, 1st Marquis Polavieja | † 15 January 1914 | Ad honorem |
| 23 January 1910 |  |
Valeriano Weyler Nicolau, 1st Duke of Rubí and Marquis of Tenerife | † 20 October 1930 |
|
| 23 January 1910 |  |
Wilhelm II, German Emperor | † 4 June 1941 |
|
| 12 March 1911 |  |
Marcelo de Azcárraga y Palmero | † 30 May 1915 |
|
| 17 May 1921 |  |
Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Infante of Spain | 14 April 1931 † 11 November 1949 |
|
| 2 May 1931 |  |
Francisco Aguilera y Egea | † 19 May 1931 |
|
| July 20, 1936 |  |
José Sanjurjo y Sacanell, 1st Marquis of the Rif | — |
Posthumous promotion |
| 18 July 1938 |  |
Francisco Franco Bahamonde | † 20 November 1975 |
|
| March 22, 1947 |  |
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella | — |
|
| March 24, 1951 |  |
José Enrique Varela Iglesias, 1st Marquis of San Fernando de Varela | — |
|
| October 21, 1952 |  |
Juan Yagüe Blanco, 1st Marquis of San Leonardo de Yagüe | — |
|
| April 12, 1956 |  |
José Moscardó Ituarte, 1st Count of the Alcázar de Toledo | — |
Posthumous promotion |
| 27 February 1957 |  |
Agustín Muñoz Grandes | † 11 July 1970 |
|
| 23 March 1962 |  |
Fidel Dávila Arrondo | † 22 March 1962 |
|
| 29 October 1969 |  |
Camilo Alonso Vega | † 1 July 1971 |
|
| 20 November 1975[4][note 7] |  |
King Juan Carlos I | Active until 19 June 2014. (Abdication) |
|
| 24 July 1994 |  |
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, 1st Marquis Gutiérrez-Mellado | † 15 December 1995 |
|
| 19 June 2014 |  |
King Felipe VI | Present |
|
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ He abdicated on 6 May 1808 and kept under guard in France. Restored in 1814.
- ^ Accession of King Amadeo.
- ^ On 14 April 1931 Alfonso XIII renounced as head of state but did not formally abdicate.
- ^ Named himself.
- ^ a b c At Civil War until 1 April 1939.
- ^ At Civil War.
- ^ Monarch since 22 November 1975.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Francisco de Asís de Borbón. Biografías y vidas. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ Ramón Cabrera y Griñó (1806–1877). Base documental d'Història Contemporània de Catalunya.. Acceded 12 January 2017
- ^ Royal Decree of the Ministry of War 7 April 1907. Gaceta de Madrid
- ^ Decree 16/1975, 20 November, por el que se promueve al empleo de Capitán General de los Ejércitos de Tierra, Mar y Aire a S. A. R. el Príncipe de España. Spanish Official Gazette
Sources
edit- List of captain generals of the Spanish Army ASAVE (in Spanish)
- Guaita Martorell, Aurelio. Capitanes y capitanías generales." Revista de Historia Militar, ISSN 0482-5748, Nº 65, 1988, pp. 125–172.