arms as in the First Spanish Republic but depicting in the second quarter an uncrowned lion. Francoist Spain (1936–1977) The Spanish Civil War officially ended on 1 April 1939, the day Francisco Franco announced the end of hostilities. The Republican forces had been defeated and Franco became the undisputed caudillo of Spain. He ruled Spain until he died on November 20, 1975. The Nationalist senior generals had held an informal meeting in September 1936, where they elected Francisco Franco as leader of the Nationalists, with the rank of Generalísimo. He was originally supposed to be only commander-in-chief, but after some discussion became head of state as well with nearly unlimited and absolute powers. Franco adopted in 1938 a variant of the Coat of Arms reinstating some elements originally used by the House of Trastámara such as Saint John's Eagle and the yoke and bundle, as follows: Quarterly, 1 and 4. quarterly Castile and León, 2 and 3. per pale Aragon and Navarra, enté en point of Granada. The arms are crowned with an open royal crown, placed on an eagle displayed sable, surrounded with the pillars of Hercules, the yoke and the bundle of arrows of the Catholic Monarchs. Spanish transition to democracy (1977–1981) See also Coat of arms of the King of Spain Coat of arms of the Prince of Asturias Coat of arms of the Kingdom of León Coat of arms of the Kingdom and Crown of Castile Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon Coats of arms of Spanish Monarchs in Italy Coat of arms of the Second Spanish Republic Symbols of Francoism Coat of arms of Toledo, municipal arms based on the royal arms of the 16th century Armorial of Spain Armorial of the Spanish Armed Forces Spanish heraldry A solis ortu usque ad occasum Granada Notes References Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales, Símbolos de España (Madrid, 2000). Hubert De Vries, Wapens van de Nederlanden (Amsterdam, 1995). External links Web of the Spanish Presidency of the Government – The National Coat of Arms (archived 17 March 2006) Origins and history of the Spanish coat of arms Royal Society of Armigers of Spain (archived 31 July 2016) Spain National symbols of Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain Spain Pillars of Hercules