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Manuel Azaña becomes President of the Spanish Republic.
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Santiago Casares Quiroga becomes Prime Minister, after the post was refused by Indalecio Prieto.
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‘Instrucción reservada no.1’ sent by General Emilio Mola, regarding need to unite military and political groups behind a planned military coup.
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Murder of Lieutenant José Castillo Seria (a socialist member of the Assault Guard) by Falangist gunmen in Madrid. Murder of Monarchist leader José Calvo Sotelo in revenge
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Start of military rebellion against the Spanish government in North Africa, then Spain.
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The military uprising is defeated in Madrid and Barcelona. Morocco, Galicia, Navarre, Old Castile and Seville soon come under the control of the rebels. The intended leader of the coup, General Sanjurjo, is killed when the aeroplane carrying him from Portugal to Spain crashes.
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José Giral Pereira becomes Prime Minister, following the collapse of the government of Santiago Casares Quiroga and the failure of Diego Martinez Barrio to form an administration. Giral dissolves the army by decree and orders arms to be handed out to workers' organisations.
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Members of the Civil Guard and military cadets are besieged in the Alcazar citadel, in Toledo, by pro-government forces. After more than two months the siege was raised by Nationalist troops commanded by General Franco. The relief of Alcazar was seen as a great symbolic victory by the Nationalists, and stories of 'red' atrocities towards civilians during the siege were used in anti-government propaganda.
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Alternative military government - Junta de Defensa Nacional - established by the rebels at Burgos (President: General Miguel Cabanellas).
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Arrival in Spain of General Francisco Franco from North Africa.
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Capture of the city of Badajoz by Nationalist forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Juan Yague. The massacre of an estimated 2,000- 4,000 civilians followed. Badajoz was used in Republican propaganda as a symbol of Nationalist barbarism. The Nationalists' use of Moroccan troops ("Moors") to carry out atrocities against Spaniards in Badajoz and elsewhere was often highlighted.
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British government ban on arms exports (including civil aircraft) to Spain comes into force.
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Francisco Largo Caballero replaces José Giral Pereira as Prime Minister. His coalition government would include socialists, communists, Left Republicans, Basque nationalists and (after 4 November 1936) anarchists.
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The Nationalists take San Sebastian.
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Rebel leaders agree that General Franco should be appointed supreme commander of the Nationalist forces (Generalissimo).
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General Franco announced as ‘Head of the Spanish State’.
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Pastoral letter praising the Nationalist 'crusade' published by the Bishop of Salamanca, Plá y Daniel.
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The first International Brigades (Brigadas Internacionales) are formed. Their members are foreign volunteers who had travelled to Spain to fight on behalf of the Republican government.
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General Franco is formally invested as Caudillo (leader of Spain) in the throne room at Burgos on 1 October (Burgos was the location of the alternative Nationalist government).
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Evacuation of Republican government from Madrid to Valencia. A Junta de Defensa, under General José Miaja, is left in charge of the capital's defence.
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Representatives of the Soviet Union state that they will be no more bound by non-intervention than Germany, Italy and Portugal have been. Within a month tanks and fighter planes from the U.S.S.R. are in action on the Republican side.
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Republican government decree announces the creation of 'mixed brigades', combining members of regular army units and militia groups into a 'Popular Army'.
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Treaty of friendship signed between Italy and Germany, laying the foundations for the Rome-Berlin Axis.
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Nationalist troops capture the town of Brunete, west of Madrid.
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Mussolini agrees to send an expeditionary force - the Italian Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CVT) - to assist Nationalist troops in Spain. They arrive in Spain later in December.
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Start of Nationalist ground assault on Madrid.
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Germany and Italy recognise the government of General Franco as the legitimate government of Spain.
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Death of the anarchist Buenaventura Durruti at Madrid. Three days later, nearly half a million people were estimated to have taken part in his funeral procession at Barcelona.
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Execution of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, leader of the Falange, by Republicans at Alicante.
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General Franco signs pact with representatives of Mussolini, agreeing to Italian control of the Mediterranean in return for military aid.
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Mussolini agrees to send an expeditionary force - the Italian Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CVT) - to assist Nationalist troops in Spain. They arrive in Spain later in December.
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The Battle of Jarama was a Nationalist offensive to cross the river Jarama, to the east of Madrid. It continued for most of February.
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The southern port of Malaga is taken by the Nationalist forces.
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The Battle of Guadalajara was a Nationalist offensive. The city of Guadalajara is 34 miles north east of Madrid.
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Start of Nationalist offensive on the northern front, commanded by General Mola.
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Bombing of the Basque town of Durango by German Aircraft
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"Events of May" in Barcelona: Divisions between different Republican groups (Communists, socialists and anarchists) result in street fighting. Those killed include the trade union leader and socialist politician Antonio Sesé, and the Italian anarchists Camillo Berneri and Franco Barbieri.
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Death of the Nationalist commander General Emilio Mola in an aircrash.
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Start of Republican offensive against Huesca. The commander of the operation, General Lukács, is killed. Offensive abandoned on 19 June.
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The Battle of Brunete was a republican offensive against Nationalist forces to the west of Madrid
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Start of Nationalist offensive towards Santander and Asturias.
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Start of Republican offensive in Aragon.
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The Vatican recognizes Franco as a ruler of Spain.
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Start of Nyon Conference, in Switzerland, to discuss Italian submarine attacks on international shipping.
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Capture of the city of Gijon (and district of Asturias) by Nationalist forces. All of the north (Cantabrian) coast is now under Nationalist control.
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The anarchist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) withdraws from the Popular Front government.
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In the middle of a harsh winter, Republican forces capture Teruel before being forced to retreat by a Nationalist counter-attack.
