Warriors of Christ the King explained

Warriors of Christ the King
Leader:Mariano Sánchez Covisa
Motives:Opposition to separatism, communism, secularism and democracy
Ideology:Traditionalism
Spanish nationalism
National Catholicism
Catholic fundamentalism
Neo-fascism[1]
Position:Far-right
Attacks:Montejurra massacre
Status:Inactive
Size:Unknown
War:Basque conflict
Allies:Batallón Vasco Español
Alianza Apostólica Anticomunista
Grupos Armados Españoles
Acción Nacional Española
Antiterrorismo ETA
Opponents:Carlist Party
Basque National Liberation Movement

Government of Spain

The Guerrilleros de Cristo Rey (English: Warriors of Christ the King) was a far-right paramilitary organisation active in the late 1970s in Spain, primarily in the Basque Country and Madrid, but also in Navarre.

History

The group emerged at a time of factionism within the Carlist movement. Historically Carlism was a traditionalist, legitimist and Catholic movement, supporting a different monarchical line to the one occupying the Spanish throne.

Under the leadership of Carlos Hugo, the group began to support a left-wing, social democrat ideology under the banner of the Carlist Party. This caused large-scale conflict within the movement; many proclaimed his more traditionalist-minded brother, Sixtus Henry, as Carlist regent. Probably the most notable incident involving the group was the Montejurra massacre of 1976, which happened during the annual Carlist pilgrimage to the Montejurra mountain in Navarre. During this attack, two supporters of the Carlos Hugo faction (Ricardo García Pellejero and Aniano Jiménez Santo) were killed. José Luis Marín García Verde and Hermenegildo García Llorente, alleged members of this armed group, were arrested later, but were later released without investigation as Manuel Fraga (Member of Franco's political board) gave direct instructions not to prosecute these murders. The presence of known European Fascist criminals, active in organisations such as Batallón Vasco Español or Alianza Apostólica Anticomunista and Italy in this has led to some speculating a link to the Cold War-era Operation Gladio.

Attacks

Attacks attributed to the Warriors of Christ the King:

Notes and References

  1. Book: Niebel, Ingo. Nazi Juggernaut in the Basque Country and Catalonia. Center for Basque Studies. University of Nevada, Reno. 2018. 84. Xabier. Irujo. Queralt. Solé. Himmler's Shadows over Euskal Herria.
  2. Torturas y violencia política en Euskadi. El Correo. Pedro Ontoso. 9 April 2014.
  3. Emiliano de Iturraran y Basabe, un sacerdote tenaz, euskaldun y con ideas firmes. Deia. 9 April 2013. Iban Gorriti. 10 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195540/http://m.deia.com/2013/04/09/sociedad/obituarios/un-sacerdote-tenaz-euskaldun-y-con-ideas-firmes. 10 September 2014.
  4. News: Synagogue Desecrated by Right-wing Extremists; Worst in Years . 20 June 2023 . Jewish Telegraphic Agency . 1972-02-03.
  5. El señor Sánchez-Covisa, detenido . Informaciones. 2 May 1973.
  6. News: El País. El Supremo declara víctima del terrorismo a un joven asesinado en 1976. 26 May 2006.
  7. News: El País. Eran cuatro, y el que disparó contra el muchacho fue el más joven. 25 January 1977.
  8. News: Atentado contra la revista "Askatasuna". 25 August 1978. La Vanguardia.
  9. Book: Atentado en Bilbao contra la revista libertaria "Askatasuna". 25 August 1978. . Ceberio . Jesús .