Ramon Serrano Sunerknown as “El Cuñadísimo”, was a key figure in Franco’s Spain. A man who was at the epicentre of power during the first years of Franco’s regime.
However, beyond his political influence and being the dictator’s brother-in-law, his life was marked by complex personal relationships, by passionate loves that, at times, intertwined with his public career.
Ramón Serrano Suñer was born on September 12, 1901 in Cartagena. Coming from a well-off bourgeois family, he graduated in Law and soon began to stand out in politics.
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Married to Ramona ‘Zita’ Polosister of Carmen Polo -wife of Francisco Franco-, Serrano Suñer quickly rose through the ranks of the Franco regime. His marriage to Zita made him the dictator’s brother-in-law.This earned him the nickname “El Cuñadísimo” (The Brother-in-Law) and consolidated his position in the power elite.
During his career, he held several important positions, including that of Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was one of the main architects of the Franco regime, promoting a close relationship between Spain and Nazi Germany during World War II.
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One of the most famous and controversial episodes in Serrano Suñer’s love life was his relationship with Sonsoles de Icaza, Marchioness of Llanzol. This relationship became an open secret in Madrid’s high society circles.
Fruit of their love was born in 1942 Carmen Diez de Riveraalso known as “the muse of the Transition”.
Carmen grew up thinking that her father was the Marquis of Llanzol, Francisco de Paula Diez de Rivera and Casares. Until in his youth he discovered the truth. His real father was Ramón Serrano Suñer.
Despite the pain and confusion this secret brought to Carmen, she maintained a close relationship with her mother. Over time she also came to know and have a relationship with her biological father, Serrano Suñer.
Carmen Díez de Rivera had a distinguished public life. She worked in politics and was a key figure in the Spanish transition to democracy. However, the weight of her origins was always present in her life.
Now, Telecinco has recovered a series about the romance between Serrano Suñer and the Marchioness of Llanzol. Titled ‘What their eyes hid’, It is based on the novel of the same name by Nieves Herrero and was already broadcast in 2016.
Elcierredigital.com has contacted the journalist and historian Julio Merinoa great connoisseur and witness of the history of Ramón Serrano Suñer. Merino has pointed out that the romance between the Marchioness and Suñer “was already widely reported and reported on in the past.”
In fact, Merino himself was summoned in September 1996 by Serrano Suñer to talk about his relationship with the Marchioness of Llanzol and her daughter Carmen.
The ‘hidden’ romance between Serano Suñer and the Marchioness of Llanzol
Although it was never officially made public during the dictatorship, the relationship between the two was a scandal that many knew about. And it had profound consequences on the personal lives of both.
As explained Julio Merino“Both couples knew about the situation. They agreed that the baby the Marchioness was expecting would bear the Marquis’s surname.. Although it was rumored that he was impotent and could not have children already at that time. As the years passed, the baby turned out to be a girl (Carmen) and he discovered who her biological father was.”
Sonsoles de Icazaa woman known for her beauty and elegance, was married to Francisco de Paula Diez de Rivera and CasaresMarquis of Llanzol. Francisco was an older man than her and they already had three children together: Sonsoles, Francisco and Antonio.
Despite their marriage, Sonsoles fell madly in love with Serrano Suñer. The two maintained a passionate and clandestine relationship for several years.
The love between Serrano Suñer and Sonsoles de Icaza was intense and dangerous, as it not only challenged the social norms of the time. It also represented a political risk for Serrano Suñer.
In a regime that valued the appearance of morality and propriety, an extramarital affair, especially with such a prominent figure, could be used against her. Despite this, the two lovers continued their relationship, defying convention and consequences.
The romance was kept secret publicly, but behind closed doors the situation was different.. Himself Julio Merino He already explained how, in September 1996, Serrano Suñer called him “to talk about his relationship with the Marchioness of Llanzol and her daughter Carmen”.
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Serrano Suñer showed Merino a blue folder containing the letters he exchanged with his daughter CarmenSuñer explained to Merino that “she contacted him for the first time in 1972 after discovering who her biological father was.”
In her letters, Carmen expressed to Serrano Suñer her understanding and acceptance of the love between him and her mother. She even went so far as to describe it as “sincere and noble,” despite the suffering it caused.
The discovery of her true paternity was a shock for Carmen. This family secret, kept for decades, had a profound impact on the life of Carmen Díez de Rivera. The former MEP would later describe her parents’ relationship as “a great story of impossible love.”
Zita Polo: The loyal and long-suffering wife
While Serrano Suñer was living his passionate romance with Sonsoles de Icaza, his wife Zita Polo She stayed away from scandals, but she was not immune to rumours. A discreet and loyal woman, Zita endured her husband’s infidelities with dignity, always maintaining a firm stance and unconditional support for him.
Their marriage, although marked by Serrano Suñer’s infidelities, never officially broke up. Zita remained by his side until the end of his days.
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Zita Polo embodied the prototype of the traditional wife, who silently endures her husband’s disloyalties in the name of duty and family. Their role was crucial in maintaining the appearance of family unity that was so valued in Franco’s Spain.
Despite the scandals and difficulties, Zita Polo never abandoned Serrano Suñer. Their relationship, although deeply damaged by the politician’s love affairs, lasted until Zita’s death in 1993.
The Carmen Card in Serrano Suñer
After the death of the Marquis of Llanzol, Francisco de Paula Diez de Rivera and CasaresOn February 21, 1972, the truth was discovered. Shortly after the death of the Marquis, Carmen Díez de Rivera found out who her biological father was.. She did not hesitate to contact him.
In a letter written a few days after the death of the Marquis, Carmen addressed Don Ramón. The historian had access to this letter Julio Merino in 1996, who was summoned to Príncipe de Vergara by Serrano Suñer himself.
During their meeting, the historian and journalist witnessed numerous manuscripts shared between Carmen and her biological father, Don Ramón.
Hoy, elcierredigital.com has had access to a non-textual reproduction of that letter, provided by Julio Merino. The text, which dates from the February 16, 1972 reza:
“Dear Mr. Ramón. Don’t be surprised that I call you that, because I have had enough doubts. Naturally, and knowing as I do that you are my biological father, I would have to call you “father.” But I’m sorry, the Marquis of Llanzol will always be my “father.” If only because of how well he always behaved towards me, even knowing that I wasn’t his daughter.”
“I can’t just call you Ramón either, because mentioning that name stirs up something inside me that I don’t want to stir up, so for me you will always be D. Ramón.”
“You see, as you know, My “father” in the eyes of the world died on Saturday the 12th and we buried him on Monday. By the way, I was very grateful to your friend Dionisio for coming to the funeral and comforting me in his own way. Dionisio is a good man and I assure you that he admires you and loves you.”
“Well, last night, My mother took me aside and told me, with all the sincerity in the world and even with tears, the truth of your “romance.”
“And through her I learned the truth of your marriage and your love. It was she who told me how and why she had married the Marquis. Apparently when her father, the writer and Mexican ambassador to Spain, my grandfather, Francis of Assisi Icaza and Beña died, the family was left in a very unfavourable economic situation. In order to maintain the “social status” in which the children had lived, they had no choice but to seek marriages that were advantageous,”
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“So my mother got married, or was married (she was only 22 at the time) to the man who would become my father. Francisco de Paula Diez de Rivera and CasaresMarquis of Llanzol. He was twice her age (he was 24 years older than her), and he was not only a nobleman and hero of the Civil War, but also from a financially strong family.”
“Curiously, the wedding took place a few days before the 1936 elections that gave victory to the Popular Front. But my mother was never in love with her husband, nor did she know what love was at her age. And so her children, my brothers, were born. Sonsoles, Francisco and Antonio“.
“But then you appeared, young, handsome, powerful and triumphant. My mother fell in love with you just by seeing you (and she said this and everything else she told me while crying like a child. “Carmen, I couldn’t help it, it was beyond my strength”) and from what she told me, something similar must have happened to you too.”
“So, love came and the gods or Cupid or whoever did the rest. Yes, last night the blindfold fell from my eyes. I understood that yours was a sincere, noble, beautiful and even romantic love. And I swear to you, and not by God in whom I no longer believe, that I too began to cry because I understood immediately that I had been unfair to you. And that I had not been the fruit of a passion of furtive lovers. And for that I ask you for forgiveness! “Carmen, it was not his fault, although he paid dearly for it.”
“Last night I also understood what you must have suffered. And for today I’m leaving, now I feel better. But I would like to know what you think and if it is worth it and if you are willing, you too, to forgive me for the harm I may have caused you.”
A kiss, Don Ramón!
PS: Naturally this must be a secret, our secret… and no one, no one, must know that we are writing to each other.
After this letter, the historian Julio Merino explains that Serrano Suñer and his biological daughter shared more than correspondence. Father and daughter met in Paris and again in GenevaOn both occasions Carmen was super affectionate with Serrano Suñer.
The second meeting, in Geneva, It was after the death of the Marchioness of Llanzol in March 1996. “She was very hurt and quite hurt, perhaps because the cancer was already undermining her.”
Julio Merino shared with this media that Serrano Suñer himself told him: “I assure you that when I received the news of her death (Carmen Díez) in 1999, my heart broke. She was only 57 years old and I was going to turn 98.”
A few years later, Specifically in 2001, Julio Merino saw ‘Don Ramón’ for the last time.
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