During some random searching, I came up the biography of Miguel Primo de Rivera, a Spanish general who was dictator of Spain from 1923-1930. This was during the reign of King Alfonso XIII. I’m trying to figure out exactly figure out how one can have a dictator when there’s a king. Anyone experts in Spanish history explain how this was possible and why no civil war occurred?
Well, Italy had a king the whole time Mussolini was in charge. In there case, it was basically the same system most constitutional monarchies have today, where the king is little more than a figurehead who just signs off on whatever his prime minister dictates.
Exactly. Primo de Rivera said “I am in charge; Do you want to continue to be King or not?” and the king decided to go along which, in the end, proved disastrous for him.
It is exactly the same that has happened in every monarchy in Europe only it was the parliament who took the powers away. They just said “If you want to continue to be king you better play along”.
I have no doubt that his grandson, king Juan Carlos, had this piece of history very present during the coup of 23 February 1983 when he decided to not go along with the generals.
That is neither here nor there.