Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was born in El Ferrol, Spain, on December 4th 1892. His father’s military background and his mother’s devout Catholicism shaped the young Franco into a hardline traditionalist and after an uneventful childhood he entered a military school and progressed into the army. Despite a lackluster performance in the academy, Franco proved to be an incredible soldier in the field. He spent over a decade fighting in Morocco where he soared up the ranks, becoming Spain’s youngest Captain, Major, and then General in 1926. He was admired for his bravery and personal discipline that earned him the respect of his men and others in the military establishment. Franco settled into the command of Zaragoza General Military Academy and spent several years quietly teaching the next generation of Spanish officers, but events were transpiring that would lead Franco down a very different path.