Fulgencio Batista



Fulgencio Batista was a Cuban politician who served as President of Cuba from 1940 to 1945, and again from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown during the Cuban Revolution. Widely considered to be a dictator, Batista was highly corrupt, having ties to multiple criminal organizations.

As President, Batista banned all other political parties and revoked most political liberties, including the right to strike. He primarily catered to the wealthiest landowners in Cuba, creating a gap in the economy that greatly affected the poorer levels of the Cuban population. He also resorted to torture and mass murder to quell any discontent with his rule.

Eventually, Batista was opposed by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement and was defeated by Che Guevara at the Battle of Santa Clara on New Year's Day 1959. Effectively removed from power, Batista went on the run, eventually being granted asylum in Portugal, remaining there until his death from a heart attack in 1973.