Somoza family

Somoza Dynasty
República de Nicaragua
[[Federal Republic of Central America|←]] 1937–1979 [[Nicaragua|→]]
Flag Coat of arms
Capital		Managua
Languages		Spanish
Government		Military dictatorship
Historical era		Cold War
•	Nicaraguan presidential election, 1936	January 1, 1937
•	Nicaraguan Revolution	1960s
•	Disestablished	July 17, 1979
Currency		Nicaraguan córdoba

The Somoza family was an influential political dynasty who ruled Nicaragua as an authoritarian family dictatorship from 1936 to 1979.

History

Anastasio Somoza Garcia was the first president who won the presidential election and took over the country. Although they only held the presidency for 30 of those 43 years, they were the power behind the other presidents of the time through their control of the National Guard. Their regime was overthrown by the Sandinista National Liberation Front during the Nicaraguan Revolution.

Three of the Somozas served as President of Nicaragua. They were:

• Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956; ruled 1937–1947, 1950–1956), the father.
• Luis Somoza Debayle (1922–1967, ruled 1956–1963), his legitimate eldest son.
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–1980, ruled 1967–1972, 1974–1979), his second legitimate son.

Other members of the Somoza family include:

• Lillian Somoza Debayle
• Hope Portocarrero, wife of Anastasio Somoza Debayle
• Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, son of Anastasio Somoza Debayle
• Bernabé Somoza, a 19th-century rebel

External links

• (Spanish) Page about the Somozas
• The Deaths of Somoza