José+Moscardó+Ituarte

=José Moscardó Ituarte=

Jose Moscardo Ituarte was a General for the province of Toledo during the Spanish Civil War. He was fighting against the Republican government as he was a Nationalist. His most famous action taken during the war, in which he is best known for, is the holding of the Alcazar of Toledo against the Republicans. The Republican siege of the Alcazar lasted 70 days, and Ituarte resisted many Republican attacks.

While holding the fort,  Moscardó's 16-year-old son, Luis, was captured. When the Republicans called the Alcazar and told him they'd shoot his son if he didn't surrender the fortress, Moscardo told his son, "Commend your soul to God and die like a patriot, shouting 'Long live Christ King' and 'Long Live Spain.'" Luis answered, "That I can do." Legends tell that Luis was shot immediately, but evidence shows that he was not killed for another month.

Defending the Alcazar made Moscardo a hero in Francoist Spain, and the the siege was remembered as a symbol of national pride. After the war, Moscardo was promoted to general by Franco.

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