Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arias Navarro, Carlos (1908-1989)
Spanish politician
Trained in the law, Arias Navarro joined
the Ministry of Justice in 1929 and pledged
his allegiance to the new republic in 1931.
Suspected of disloyalty, he was arrested on
the outbreak of the Franco uprising in 1936
but soon liberated by fellow conservatives.
During the S PANISH C IVIL W AR he served as
a military judge advocate. Having demon-
strated his loyalty to the new order, he was
rewarded with a series of administrative
appointments: civil governor of L EÓN
(1944-49), governor of N AVARRE (1949),
director general of security (1957-65),
mayor of M ADRID (1965-73), and minister
of the interior (1973).
In 1973 Basque terrorists assassinated
Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, the prime
minister and expected successor of F RAN -
CISCO F RANCO . Arias Navarro was named to
replace him as prime minister, the first civil-
ian to hold this position during the dictator-
ship. Many observers understood this
appointment as representing the triumph
of moderate elements in El Caudillo's
administration and a signal that Franco was
preparing to hand over power to the desig-
nated heir, Prince J UAN C ARLOS , rather than
to a military clique. It fell to Arias Navarro
to announce Franco's death in 1975 and to
preside over the transition that effectively
reestablished the monarchy during the next
few months. By the time Arias Navarro
resigned the prime ministership in 1976
Spain's return to democracy was well under
way. Arias Navarro lived quietly for the
remainder of his life, his earlier alignment
with authoritarianism forgiven in light of
his vital work in easing the rebirth of Span-
ish civil society.
G ODOY . As a result Aranda was stripped of
his offices yet again and vanished to inter-
nal exile. Allowed to spend the last years of
life in his family home in A RAGON , he died
there in 1798.
Argentina
The region that later emerged as the mod-
ern country of Argentina was first explored
by Spanish navigators who sailed up the
Río de la Plata in 1516 and during the next
two decades. A permanent settlement was
established at Buenos Aires in 1536. This
languished but was resettled in 1580, as
were several other outposts in the region.
Originally placed under the jurisdiction of
the Viceroyalty of P ERU in 1620, the area
around Buenos Aires as well as more dis-
tant settlements in present-day U RUGUAY ,
P ARAGUAY , and B OLIVIA were formed into
the Viceroyalty of La Plata in 1776. Buenos
Aires was the object of British military and
naval assaults in 1806-07 while Spain was
still allied with Napoleonic France. The role
played by the local population in beating
off their assaults contributed to a rising
sense of self-sufficiency and were followed
by a declaration of independence from
Spain in 1816. Over the next 10 years rec-
ognition of the United Provinces of the Río
de La Plata was granted by both the United
States and Great Britain, and Spanish colo-
nial control came to an end. Prolonged dis-
putes between various regions and factions
were resolved by the establishment of a
federal republic in Argentina in the mid-
19th century.
Arias de Ávila, Pedro
See P EDRARIAS
D ÁVILA .
 
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