Caudillo

thumb|A 1963 Spanish peseta coin with the image of [[Generalissimo Francisco Franco, and inscription Caudillo de España, por la Gracia de Dios (Spanish for "Caudillo of Spain, by the Grace of God")]] thumb|Juan Manuel de Rosas, c. 1841 by [[Cayetano Descalzi, the caudillo paradigm]] A caudillo ( , ; , from Latin , diminutive of caput "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. No precise English translation exists for the term, though it is often used interchangeably with "military dictator", "warlord", "strongman", and "Generalissimo". The term is historically associated with Spain and Hispanic America, after virtually all of the regions in the latter won independence in the early 19th century.

The roots of caudillismo may be tied to the framework of rule in medieval and early modern Spain during the Reconquista from the Moors. Spanish conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro exhibit characteristics of the caudillo, being successful military leaders, having mutual reliance on the leader and their supporters, and rewarding them for their loyalty. An important characteristic of caudillos is their charisma, which drew in followers who could be used to change the political climate and shape state formation in the postcolonial era. The followers of caudillos, called gauchos, were common people whom the caudillos could charm and persuade into joining their cause. Often, the caudillo would take on the role of the provider as a substitute for the shortcomings of those in the government. It created a type of father-child bond between the caudillo and gaucho that strengthened loyalties and made the caudillos powerful. The paternalist view towards the relationship between the caudillo and the gaucho, though, assumes that the caudillo has all of the power in the relationship and ignores that much of that power comes from the gaucho's decision to follow a particular caudillo.