Una, Grande y Libre

Coat of arms under Franco, displaying the motto "Una Grande Libre".

Una, Grande y Libre (English: One, Great and Free), was the Francoist motto which expressed the nationalist concept of Spain as being:

• Indivisible (against the separatism of the Basques and Catalans).
• Imperial (for the lost Empire of South America, and to expand the African one).
• And no sometida a influencias extranjeras (not submitted to foreign influences) in reference to the alleged Jewish-masonic-Marxist conspiracy against Spain.

The motto may have been inspired by the triad "the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" (Spanish: Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo). Note, the Francoist definition of the Church Católica, Apostólica y Romana – "Catholic, Apostolic and Roman".

Una, Grande y Libre! was often used at the end of speeches, similar to the way Amen is used in church. The leader would exclaim three times España!, and the public would successively respond to each of these shouts with Una!, Grande!, and finally Libre!. The theatre would continue with an almost choreographed script of Arriba España!, Arriba! José Antonio, Presente!, Caídos por Dios y por España, Presente!. Viva Franco!, Viva!, or just intoning Franco, Franco, Franco…!

See also

• Plus ultra (motto)
• List of national mottos

Sources

• Paul Preston (1998). Las tres Españas del 36. Plaza & Janés. p. 81–83. ISBN 8401530261.