Los gobernadores civiles en el primer franquismo

This article is addressed to analyse a relevant group in Francoist State: the civil governors (gobernadores civiles). The period of study (January 1939 and December 1958) covers the first 20 years of dictatorship. This study not only shows the progressive stabilisation of the regime during that period but also how it was established in local frames (provinces). The group analysed represents a significant whole of political personnel and several items have been explored as age, education, profession, previous and subsequent career, etc. The stability of each province has been measured based on the number of governors nominated between 1939 and 1958. This work concludes with some reflections about two important matters: firstly, the ideological provenance and evolution of the governors even though they were provincial chiefs of the Movimiento (the only party also called Falange); and secondly, the performance of governors between the interests of the government that has nominated them and, on the other hand, the problems, needs and pressures came from local spheres