Joaquín Manglano y Cucaló de Montull

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Joaquín Manglano y Cucaló de Montull (1892–1985) was a Spanish aristocrat, businessman and politician from Valencia. He came from a powerful Valencian family and held many noble titles. In business he was part of the Levante orange and rice industries and sat on several company boards. He was also a prominent Catholic activist.

Manglano’s career blended aristocratic tradition with Francoist politics. He was deeply involved in Catholic and conservative circles and, during the Franco era, became a key local leader. In 1939 he was named mayor of Valencia, a post he held until 1943. As mayor he focused on rebuilding after the war, urban development and supporting local business, a period that remains debated for its methods and impact on the city.

From 1952 to 1967 Manglano served in the national parliament (the Cortes) as part of the Francoist system, while also holding leadership roles in Catholic and Falangist-aligned organizations. He was a vocal opponent of the 1967 law on religious liberty. After Franco’s death he largely stepped back from public life.

Manglano died in Valencia in 1985. His legacy is mixed: some view him as a symbol of Valencia’s Francoist establishment and economic oligarchy, while others see him as a committed Catholic who shaped the city during a turbulent era.