Ildefonso Puigdendolas

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Puigdendolas and the second or maternal family name is Ponce de Leon.

Ildefonso Puigdendolas
Puigdengolas in 1936
Personal details
Born	1876 (1876) Girona, Spain
Died	31 October 1936(1936-10-31) (aged 59–60) near Illescas, Spain
Citizenship	Spanish
Alma mater	School of Corporals and Sergeants of the Colegio de María Cristina
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Spain (1892-1931) Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
Branch/service	Spanish Army (1892-1931) Spanish Republican Army (1931-1936)
Years of service	1892-1936
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Cuban War of Independence Rif War Sanjurjada Spanish Civil War Battle of Alcala de Henares Extremadura campaign Battle of Badajoz Battle of Seseña

Colonel Ildefonso Puigdendolas Ponce de Leon (1876, in Girona – 31 October 1936, near Illescas) was a Spanish military officer who served the Republic during the Spanish Civil War.

Early life

Ildefonso Puigdendolas was born in 1876 in Girona and became orphaned during his childhood. From a young age, Puigdendolas developed left-wing views. He also became a Freemason at a young age.^[1] Despite his young age, Puigdendolas participated in several duels including one against Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.^[1]

Military Career

In 1892, Puigdendolas entered the School of Corporals and Sergeants of the Colegio de María Cristina. In 1895, Puigdendolas lied about his age in order to fight in the Cuban War of Independence.^[1] He would later serve as a Lieutenant in the Rif War.

The Second Republic

In 1931, he became the Colonel of Infantry in Seville as part of the inspector of the security corps. In 1932, during the Sanjurjada, Puigdendolas personally confronted José Sanjurjo.^[2] In 1934 he was appointed to Malaga.

Spanish Civil War

Puigdendolas in Alcalá de Henares on 21 July 1936

In July 1936 he defeated the rebels forces at Alcala de Henares and Guadalajara.^[3] After that, he commanded the Loyalist militia at the Battle of Badajoz in 1936.^[4][5] After the battle of Badajoz he escaped to Portugal and returned to the zone controlled by the Spanish Republican Army. During the Battle of Seseña Puigdendolas was killed by his own men when trying to prevent desertion.^[6]

Notes

1. "AUGUST 14. THE LOSS OF BADAJOZ". CRONISTA OFICIAL DE BADAJOZ (in Spanish). 24 August 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
2. "El asesinato del coronel Puigdengolas a manos de sus hombres". Guerra En Madrid (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
3. ESPINOSA, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. 2003. Barcelona. p.461
4. Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London. p.360
5. ESPINOSA, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. 2003. Barcelona. p.81
6. Héctor Alonso García, El coronel Puigdengolas y la batalla de Badajoz: (agosto de 1936), Valencia 2014

References

• Espinosa, Francisco. La columna de la muerte. El avance del ejército franquista de Sevilla a Badajoz. Editorial Crítica. 2003. Barcelona.
• Espinosa, Francisco. La justicia de Queipo. Editorial Crítica. Barcelona. 2006. ISBN 84-8432-691-8
• Thomas, Hugh. (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Penguin Books. London.