Alfredo Kindelán

Illustrious Highness Alfredo Kindelán Marquess of Kindelán
Alfredo Kindelán in 1940
Birth name	Alfredo Kindelán y Duany
Born	(1879-03-13)13 March 1879 Santiago de Cuba, Captaincy General of Cuba
Died	14 December 1962(1962-12-14) (aged 83) Madrid, Spain
Allegiance	Spain
Service/branch	Spanish Air Force
Rank	General

Alfredo Kindelán y Duany, 1st Marquess of Kindelán (13 March 1879, in Santiago de Cuba – 14 December 1962, in Madrid) was a Spanish general and politician. A close ally of Francisco Franco before and during the Spanish Civil War, their relationship would later become strained as Kindelán emerged as a leading advocate for a swift restoration of the monarchy. He belonged to the Kindelán family, a noted Spanish family of Irish origin.

Kindelán was a prominent figure within the military of Spain and was founder and head of the Spanish Air Force. A staunch supporter of the monarchy, he took voluntary exile in April 1931 rather than live in a republic. Kindelán was one of the earliest collaborators of Francisco Franco, along with José Millán Astray, Luis Orgaz y Yoldi and the leader's brother Nicolás.

Kindelán was central to the conspiracies amongst the nationalist generals and took command of the right wing of the Air Force upon the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. In the early stages of the war he directed his operations from his place of exile in Gibraltar before returning to Spain. His importance to the actual war effort in the field, as well as that of the Air Force as a whole, declined after the arrival of the Aviazione Legionaria from Fascist Italy which soon became the main air combat unit. Nonetheless he remained an influential figure and an important strategist.

One of Franco's most trusted aides, it was Kindelán who initially raised the prospect of Franco as overall commander of the Nationalist forces. He also helped to ensure that the role came with the promise of Franco ultimately assuming the role of head of state, largely because he trusted that Franco would restore the monarchy at the earliest possible opportunity.