Falange
/faˈlanxe/noun
Falange is the name commonly used for Spain’s fascist political movement founded in 1933 by José Antonio Primo de Rivera.
Did you know?The Falange’s name deliberately evoked the disciplined Greek phalanx, turning an ancient military formation into a modern symbol of authoritarian unity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pl̥h₂nk-s
“A reconstructed root associated with something broad, flat, or arranged in a mass”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φάλαγξ (phálanx)
“A battle line or compact military formation; later also a finger or toe bone”
Classical Latin
Latin
phalanx
“A Greek-style infantry formation”
16th Century
Spanish
falange
“Phalanx or military formation”
1933
Spanish
Falange Española
“Spanish Phalanx, the fascist political movement founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera”
1937
Spanish
Falange Española Tradicionalista
“The unified Falangist organization created under Franco’s regime”