Eduardo López Ochoa
Encyclopedia
Eduardo López Ochoa y Portoundo (1877, Barcelona
– August 19, 1936) was a Spanish general, Africanist, and prominent freemason
. He was known for most of his life as a traditional Republican
, and conspired against the government of Miguel Primo de Rivera
. At the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
in 1931, López Ochoa was designated capitán general of Catalonia
by Francesc Macià. He led troops to crush the insurrection in Asturias
in October 1934, after which the leader of the nascent Popular Front
was jailed. The left felt betrayed, and began to regard López Ochoa as a rightist
. His enemies nicknamed him "el verdugo de Asturias" ("the executioner of Asturias"). At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War
, López Ochoa was in a military hospital in Carabanchel
. He was swiftly captured by Republicans and executed by decapitation.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
– August 19, 1936) was a Spanish general, Africanist, and prominent freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He was known for most of his life as a traditional Republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
, and conspired against the government of Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, Knight of Calatrava was a Spanish dictator, aristocrat, and a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by the King and who for seven years was a dictator, ending the turno system of alternating...
. At the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in 1931, López Ochoa was designated capitán general of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
by Francesc Macià. He led troops to crush the insurrection in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
in October 1934, after which the leader of the nascent Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
was jailed. The left felt betrayed, and began to regard López Ochoa as a rightist
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
. His enemies nicknamed him "el verdugo de Asturias" ("the executioner of Asturias"). At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, López Ochoa was in a military hospital in Carabanchel
Carabanchel
Carabanchel is a district in the south western suburbs of Madrid, Spain.-Overview:The area was the scene of fierce fighting during the Spanish Civil War -especially in November 1936, during the Battle of Madrid, when Nationalist troops tried to fight their way into the area. Unacustomed to street...
. He was swiftly captured by Republicans and executed by decapitation.