Fulgencio Batista was born on January 16, 1901, in the town of Banes, Cuba. Coming from a mixed background of Indian, Spanish, Chinese, and African descent, Batista was the son of Belisario Batista Palermo and Carmela Zaldivar Gonzalez. Growing up in poverty, Batista worked various odd jobs to support himself and his family.
In 1933, Batista rose to prominence as a military leader during the Gerardo Machado-deposing Revolt of the Sergeants. This marked the beginning of his political career, as he went on to control Cuba's government through various puppet presidents over the next decade. After finally securing the Cuban presidency, Batista established the Constitution of Cuba.
During his time in power, Batista married twice – first to Elisa Godinez y Gomez and then to Marta Fernandez Miranda. Together, they had a total of eight children.
After being overthrown during the Cuban Revolution, Batista went into exile, seeking refuge in the Dominican Republic and Portugal. He was protected by the governments of Rafael Trujillo and Oliveira Salazar during his time in exile.
Despite being ousted from Cuba, Batista remained a controversial figure in politics. In 1952, he staged a military coup and seized power once again, establishing a dictatorship in the country. His authoritarian rule was marked by corruption, repression, and human rights abuses.
However, his oppressive regime sparked widespread discontent among the Cuban people, leading to the rise of the revolutionary movement led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. In 1958, Batista's rule came to an end when his forces were defeated by Castro's rebel army during the Battle of Santa Clara.
After his defeat, Batista fled Cuba and lived out the rest of his days in exile. He passed away on August 6, 1973, in Marbella, Spain. Despite his controversial and tumultuous reign, Batista remains a polarizing figure in Cuban history, with some viewing him as a corrupt dictator and others as a defender of Cuban interests.
While his legacy may be complicated, there is no denying that Fulgencio Batista played a significant role in shaping the modern history of Cuba. His rise to power, authoritarian rule, and eventual downfall are all key chapters in the tumultuous saga of Cuban politics.