Pedro Sainz Carlos Rodríguez (1897 in Madrid – 1986) was a Spanish writer, philologist, publisher and politician, an adviser to Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and one of the main architects of the reign of Juan Carlos I of Spain and the

Spanish transition to democracy Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

. Within the wide coalition of

right-wing Right-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics, authorit ...

opinion that was the early movement behind

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War ...

he was the leading figure of the monarchist wing. In terms of character Sainz Rodríguez was noted for his quick wit, whilst physically he was known for his obesity.

Academic career

Sainz Rodríguez first came to prominence as a philology academic and a disciple of Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo. He became noted as an expert in ' Golden Age' mysticism and a defender of traditional Catholicism. He argued that Spain had become decadent because of an invasion of liberalism into the ruling classes from the 18th Century onwards and called for a return to the ideals of Catholicism and the heroic spirit of Don Quixote. His 1925 work, ''La evolución de las ideas sobre la decadencia española y otros estudios de crítica literaria'', became one of the most widely read books on the theme of Spanish decadence, a popular theme for rightist authors at the time.

Alliance with Franco

As a friend of Franco he was instrumental in convincing him to join in the coup attempt of José Sanjurjo, Emilio Mola and other right-wing generals that led to the Spanish Civil War. A close associate of Mola, he shared his ally's belief that Franco's tenure at the head of the nationalists would be a short one designed only to take advantage of Franco's personal popularity. Despite his personal reservations about his leadership, Sainz Rodríguez was appointed Minister of Education in 1938 as part of Franco's first cabinet. During his time in office Sainz Rodríguez ensured that Spanish education would once again be dominated by the Church. As a cabinet Minister he took the lead in attacking the Constitutional proposals put forward by the Falangist hard-line of Manuel Hedilla, Dionisio Ridruejo,

Agustín Aznar Agustín Aznar Gerner (18 August 1911 – 2 May 1984) was a Spanish medical doctor, political activist with the Falange and a leading figure during the Spanish Civil War. Aznar was part of a radical element within the followers of Francisco ...

and Fernando González Vélez which sought to build Spain into a party state along the lines of

Fascist Italy Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the ...

and Nazi Germany. Sainz Rodríguez was supported in his opposition by Franco and both Aznar and González Vélez were imprisoned for their part in the proposal. Unsurprisingly Sainz Rodríguez became a target of abuse from the Falangists and, damaged by the criticism, he requested his own removal from office in April 1939. Despite this he did not last long in his position, being replaced in 1939 by José Ibáñez Martín.

Monarchism

Sainz Rodríguez drifted from the government and in 1943 was involved in a plot with Generals

Antonio Aranda Antonio Aranda Mata (13 November 1888 – 8 February 1979) was a military officer who fought on side of the Rebel faction in the Spanish Civil War. Biography Antonio Aranda Mata was born in Leganés on 13 November 1888. During the Morocco wars ...

and

Luis Orgaz Yoldi Luis Orgaz Yoldi (28 May 1881 in Vitoria-Gasteiz – 31 January 1946 in Madrid) was a Spanish general who was a leading figure of the Nationalist faction in the Spanish Civil War. He later went on to become a critic of the regime of Francisco Fr ...

, who intended to restore the monarchy with a coup. Ultimately, however, nothing came of that initiative. However, he remained committed to monarchism and, along with Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right leader

José María Gil-Robles y Quiñones José María Gil-Robles y Quiñones de León (Salamanca, 27 November 1898 – Madrid, 13 September 1980) was a Spanish politician, leader of the CEDA and a prominent figure in the period leading up to the Spanish Civil War. He served as Mi ...

and the author

Eugenio Vegas Latapie Eugenio Vegas Latapie (1907–1985) was a Spanish monarchist writer, activist and conspirator who was noted for the extremism of his monarchism. A native of Irun, he was a leading member of the Acción Española. In his later years, Vegas Lat ...

, he was one of the three main consellors of Juan. During the Second World War, he was also a regular contact of Samuel Hoare, whose role was to keep Spain from joining the Axis powers. Increasingly distant from Franco, he was even accused by ''el caudillo'' of organising international criticism of Spain in a Masonic plot with Santiago Montero Díaz, a dissident from the Falange wing although Sainz Rodríguez had no link. Despite the lack of evidence, Franco would keep repeating his allegations of Freemasonry against Sainz Rodríguez. Indeed, when the staunch Falangist Mauricio Carlavilla produced the book ''Anti-España 1959'', which criticised the monarchist cause as a tool of Freemasonry, Franco indicated to Juan that he shared many of its views because of the prominence of Sainz Rodríguez in monarchism. Juan, however, rejected Franco's opinions and retained Sainz Rodríguez as a close advisor.

Later years

Sainz Rodríguez became noted as a prolific writer on the history of

spirituality The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...

in Spain, producing such works as ''Historica de la literatura mística en España'' (1984) and the four volume ''Antología de la literatura espiritual español'' (1980-5). His autobiography came out after Franco's death and reflected the deterioration between Franco and himself. Indeed, in keeping with the memoirs of many of his contemporaries, it largely dismissed ''El Caudillo'' as a bland and mediocre individual.Preston, ''Franco'', p. 782

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sainz Rodriguez, Pedro 1897 births 1986 deaths Politicians from Madrid Renovación Española politicians Education ministers of Spain Members of the Congress of Deputies of the Second Spanish Republic Spanish philologists Spanish people of the Spanish Civil War (National faction) Spanish male writers Writers from Madrid Spanish monarchists 20th-century philologists