Pedro Sainz Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1897-01-14)14 January 1897 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 14 December 1986(1986-12-14) (aged 89) Madrid, Spain |
| Seatc of theReal Academia Española | |
| In office 10 June 1979 – 14 December 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Amalio Gimeno |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Fernández-Galiano [es][a] |
Pedro Sainz Rodríguez (14 January 1897 inMadrid – 14 December 1986) was a Spanish writer,philologist, publisher and politician, an adviser toInfante Juan, Count of Barcelona and one of the main architects of the reign ofJuan Carlos I of Spain and theSpanish transition to democracy. Within the wide coalition ofright-wing opinion that was the early movement behindFrancisco Franco he was the leading figure of themonarchist wing.[1] In terms of character Sainz Rodríguez was noted for his quick wit, whilst physically he was known for hisobesity.[2]
Sainz Rodríguez first came to prominence as a philology academic and a disciple ofMarcelino Menéndez y Pelayo. He became noted as an expert in 'Golden Age' mysticism and a defender of traditionalCatholicism. He argued that Spain had become decadent because of an invasion ofliberalism into the ruling classes from the 18th Century onwards and called for a return to the ideals of Catholicism and the heroic spirit ofDon Quixote.[3] 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 thedecline of Spain, a popular theme for rightist authors at the time.[4]
As a friend of Franco he was instrumental inconvincing him to join in the coup attempt ofJosé Sanjurjo,Emilio Mola and other right-wing generals that led to theSpanish Civil War.[5] 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.[6]
Despite his personal reservations about his leadership, Sainz Rodríguez was appointedMinister of Education in 1938 as part of Franco's first cabinet.[7] During his time in office Sainz Rodríguez ensured that Spanish education would once again be dominated by the Church.[8] As a cabinet Minister he took the lead in attacking the Constitutional proposals put forward by theFalangist hard-line ofManuel Hedilla,Dionisio Ridruejo,Agustín Aznar and Fernando González Vélez which sought to build Spain into a party state along the lines ofFascist Italy andNazi Germany. Sainz Rodríguez was supported in his opposition by Franco and both Aznar and González Vélez were imprisoned for their part in the proposal.[9] 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.[10] Despite this he did not last long in his position, being replaced in 1939 byJosé Ibáñez Martín.
Sainz Rodríguez drifted from the government and in 1943 was involved in a plot with GeneralsAntonio Aranda andLuis Orgaz Yoldi, who intended to restore the monarchy with a coup. Ultimately, however, nothing came of that initiative.[11] However, he remained committed to monarchism and, along withSpanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right leaderJosé María Gil-Robles y Quiñones and the authorEugenio Vegas Latapié, he was one of the three main consellors of Juan.[12] During theSecond World War, he was also a regular contact ofSamuel Hoare, whose role was to keep Spain from joining theAxis powers.[13]
Increasingly distant from Franco, he was even accused byel caudillo of organising international criticism of Spain in aMasonic plot with Santiago Montero Díaz, a dissident from the Falange wing although Sainz Rodríguez had no link.[14] Despite the lack of evidence, Franco would keep repeating his allegations of Freemasonry against Sainz Rodríguez.[15] Indeed, when the staunch Falangist Mauricio Carlavilla produced the bookAnti-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.[16] Juan, however, rejected Franco's opinions and retained Sainz Rodríguez as a close advisor.[17]
Sainz Rodríguez became noted as a prolific writer on the history ofspirituality in Spain, producing such works asHistorica de la literatura mística en España (1984) and the four volumeAntología de la literatura espiritual español (1980–1985).[18] 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 dismissedEl Caudillo as a bland and mediocre individual.[19]
