Page "Gonzalo Queipo de Llano" Paragraph 12

Queipo de Llano's role in the capture of Seville in the early stages of the war has achieved almost mythical status.

Initially, he claimed that he had seized control of the city with only 200 men ( later claiming in a radio interview that he had done so with only 15 soldiers ).

This account of military brilliance became the accepted version of events.

Recent research by the historian Paul Preston, however, has shown that the successful capture of Seville was the result of careful planning and the use of at least 4, 000 nationalist troops.

But there is little doubt that Queipo de Llano acted with bluff and bravado on the morning of July 18.

Early that morning, accompanied by four aides, he burst in on General Jose Fernandez de Villa-Abrille, military commander of the region, and immediately demanded to know if the General would support the rising.

When Fernandez de Villa-Abrille " dithered ," Queipo placed him and his staff under arrest and ordered an armed guard to shoot anyone who left the room.

Queipo de Llano then went to the infantry barracks of the 6th regiment, where he congratulated the regiment's colonel on joining the uprising.

When the colonel indicated his support for the government, Quiep de Llano suggested they discuss the matter privately.

Once in private, he arrested the colonel, too.

Returning to the Regiment, he went through the ranks of officers until he found a young Falangist captain prepared to lead the unit in support of the revolt, and placed him in command.

The regiment's more senior officers, who had supported their colonel, were locked up.

With the infantry secured, Queipo persuaded the artillery to join the revolt, and forced the surrender of the civil governor and the loyalist Assault Guard ( urban police ) with a salvo of cannon fire.

He then had their leaders shot.

Watching these developments, the local units of the paramilitary Civil Guard ( Spain's rural police force ) decided to cast their lot with the uprising.