article: As communist regimes collapsed across the world, Castro kept the red flag flying right on the doorstep of his greatest enemy, the United States. A divisive figure, his supporters praised him as a champion of socialism, the soldier-politician who had given Cuba back to the people. But he faced accusations of brutally suppressing opposition and pursuing policies that crippled the Cuban economy. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on 13 August 1926, the illegitimate son of a wealthy farmer, Angel MarÃ­a Bautista Castro y Argiz, who had emigrated to Cuba from Spain. His mother, Lina Ruz GonzÃ¡lez was a farm servant who became his father's mistress, and later, after Fidel's birth, his wife. Castro attended Catholic schools in Santiago before going on to the Jesuit-run El Colegio de Belen in Havana. However, he failed to excel academically, preferring to spend his time in sporting activities. It was while studying law at Havana University in the mid-1940s that he became a political activist, honing his skills as a passionate public speaker. His targets included the Cuban government, led by the president Ramon Grau, which was mired in accusations of corruption. Violent protests became the order of the day and Castro found himself targeted by the police. He also became part of a plot to overthrow Rafael Trujillo, the right-wing leader of the Dominican Republic but the attempt was thwarted after US intervention. In 1948 Castro married Mirta Diaz-Balart, the daughter of a wealthy Cuban politician. Far from encouraging him to join the country's elite, he turned increasingly to Marxism. He believed Cuba's economic problems were a result of unbridled capitalism that could only be solved by a people's revolution. After graduating Castro set up a legal practice but it failed to prosper and he was continually in debt. He remained a political activist, taking part in a series of often violent demonstrations. In 1952 Fulgencio Batista launched a military coup which overthrew the government of the Cuban president, Carlos PrÃ­o. Batista's policy of closer ties with the United States and the suppression of socialist organisations ran counter to Castro's fundamental political beliefs. After legal challenges had failed Castro formed an organisation called The Movement, which worked underground in a bid to overthrow the Batista regime. Cuba had become a haven for the playboy rich, and was run largely by organised crime syndicates. Prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking were endemic. In July 1953 Castro planned an attack on the Moncada army barracks near Santiago in order to seize weapons for use in an armed uprising. The attack failed and many revolutionaries were killed or captured. Castro was one of a number of prisoners who went on trial in September 1953. Castro used his court appearance to expose atrocities committed by the army which further raised his profile, particularly among members of the foreign press who were allowed to attend the hearing. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In the event he was released in a general amnesty in May 1955 having served just 19 months in relatively comfortable conditions. During his short
summary: Fidel Castro ruled Cuba as a one party state for almost half a century.