On 17 July 1936 a Nationalist military coup, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, broke out in Spain.
The immediate pretext for the revolt, which had been planned since February of that year, was the assassination of the anti-republican right-wing jurist and politician José Calvo Sotelo. He was murdered by the leftist militiamen on 13 July 1936, in response to the prior killing of Lieutenant José Castillo by the Falangists.
The Nationalists hoped to swiftly gain power and overthrow the Spanish Second Republic. Instead, the government retained control of most of the country. The Spanish Civil War began, ending ultimately in 1939 with Nationalist General Francisco Franco becoming the ruler of Spain. His dictatorship lasted till his death in 1975.