Manuel Aznar Zubigaray
Encyclopedia
Manuel Aznar y Zubigaray (Etxalar
, Navarre
, 1894 – Madrid
, 1975) was a Navarrese-Spanish
diplomat
in the dictatorship of Francisco Franco
.
As a young man he was a firm supporter of Basque nationalism
, a contributor to the radical newspaper La Tradición Navarra and the editor of Euzkadi. In 1914, he staged his El jardín del mayorazgo theatre play, strongly anti-Spanish in content.
Aznar Zubigaray joined the Basque Nationalist Party
in 1916, affiliating with its most radical wing. Since 1914, he had worked as a correspondent from World War I
frontlines, which earned him the position of editor-in-chief at the central El Sol
newspaper. In 1922, he and his family left for Cuba
, where Manuel Aznar Zubigaray worked for several local newspapers, returning with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic
(1931).
He moved towards Conservatism
in the Republic years, and began supporting right wing politicians. In 1936, with the start of the Spanish Civil War
, Aznar Zubigaray left for Burgos
and offered his services to the Francoist army and the Falange
. Throughout the war, he was an important author of propaganda
and chronicler of military events. In 1940-1943, Aznar wrote his most important works, the Historia militar de la Guerra de España (1936–1939) ("Military History of the Spanish War") and Historia de la Cruzada ("History of the Crusade").
Between 1964 and 1967 he was Spain's ambassador
to the United Nations
. He also served this role in Morocco
, Argentina
and the Dominican Republic
. He edited the La Vanguardia
newspaper and helped start the EFE
news agency. He is interviewed in the documentary film
Franco, ese hombre
, a biography of the Spanish dictator
.
He married María de las Mercedes Acedo y Villanueva and was the father of Manuel Aznar Acedo
and the grandfather of José María Aznar
.
Etxalar
Etxalar is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.-External links:*...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, 1894 – Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, 1975) was a Navarrese-Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in the dictatorship of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
.
As a young man he was a firm supporter of Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
, a contributor to the radical newspaper La Tradición Navarra and the editor of Euzkadi. In 1914, he staged his El jardín del mayorazgo theatre play, strongly anti-Spanish in content.
Aznar Zubigaray joined the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
in 1916, affiliating with its most radical wing. Since 1914, he had worked as a correspondent from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
frontlines, which earned him the position of editor-in-chief at the central El Sol
El Sol (Madrid)
El Sol was a Spanish newspaper printed in Madrid. It was founded the December 1, 1917 by Nicolás María de Urgoiti. Edited by Manuel Aznar Zubigaray, its writers included Julio Álvarez del Vayo and Ernesto Giménez Caballero....
newspaper. In 1922, he and his family left for Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where Manuel Aznar Zubigaray worked for several local newspapers, returning with 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....
(1931).
He moved towards Conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in the Republic years, and began supporting right wing politicians. In 1936, with the start 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...
, Aznar Zubigaray left for Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
and offered his services to the Francoist army and the Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
. Throughout the war, he was an important author of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
and chronicler of military events. In 1940-1943, Aznar wrote his most important works, the Historia militar de la Guerra de España (1936–1939) ("Military History of the Spanish War") and Historia de la Cruzada ("History of the Crusade").
Between 1964 and 1967 he was Spain's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He also served this role in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He edited the La Vanguardia
La Vanguardia
La Vanguardia is Catalonia's leading daily newspaper as well as the fourth best-selling in Spain. It has its headquarters in Barcelona, Catalonia's largest city....
newspaper and helped start the EFE
EFE
EFE is a Spanish news agency created in 1939 by Spain's former minister of the press and propaganda Ramón Serrano Súñer and Manuel Aznar Zubigaray....
news agency. He is interviewed in the documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Franco, ese hombre
Franco, ese hombre
Franco, ese hombre, translated into English as Franco, that man, is a 1964 documentary film by Spanish director José Luis Sáenz de Heredia. It follows the military and political career of Francisco Franco until the 25th anniversary of the end of the Spanish Civil War...
, a biography of the Spanish dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
.
He married María de las Mercedes Acedo y Villanueva and was the father of Manuel Aznar Acedo
Manuel Aznar Acedo
Manuel Aznar y Acedo was a Spanish journalist and radio broadcaster.He was the son of Manuel Aznar Zubigaray and father of José María Aznar López....
and the grandfather of José María Aznar
José María Aznar
José María Alfredo Aznar López served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. He is on the board of directors of News Corporation.-Early life:...
.