Alfonso Armada, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetAlfonso Armada
Spanish military officer involved in 1981 coup
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
About Alfonso Armada
- Divisional General Alfonso Armada Comyn, 9th Marquis of Santa Cruz de Rivadulla (February 12, 1920 – December 1, 2013) was a Spanish military officer involved in both the Spanish Civil War and the 1981 attempted coup d'état in Spain.Armada was born into an aristocratic and pro-monarchist family.
- He joined the Francoists in the Spanish Civil War and also participated in the Siege of Leningrad during World War II with the Blue Division.
- Armada rose in prestige over decades, eventually becoming a tutor, and then an aide, to Juan Carlos, and becoming part of the Royal Household of Spain when Juan Carlos became king.Armada was a major figure in the attempted coup d'état in Spain on February 23, 1981.
- Though he pretended to be a mediator in the coup by going to the Congress of Deputies after Antonio Tejero had taken the legislature hostage, Armada's full involvement soon came to light: He was one of the "three main conspirators", and had planned to become president.
- When Armada came to the legislature, he and Tejero disagreed about the direction of the government, and the coup fell apart.
- Within five days, Armada was dismissed from all positions and arrested.In April 1983, Armada was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but received a compassionate release pardon in December 1988 for health reasons.
- He spent the rest of his life in Rivadulla, Galicia, Spain, and died in 2013.
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