Fulgencio Batista
1901 – 1973 Cuban army sergeant, president, dictator
The US-backed Cuban strongman whose corrupt rule was overthrown by Castro's revolution in 1959.
- Religion
- Roman Catholic; Santeria associations alleged
- Affiliations
- Cuban military; ties to US business and organized crime
Fulgencio Batista dominated Cuban politics from the 1933 sergeants' revolt and ruled directly after a 1952 coup. His government was backed by US business and worked with organized crime while repressing opponents. His overthrow by Fidel Castro's rebels on the first day of 1959 opened the Cuban Revolution.
In the timeline
- 1959 Triumph of the Cuban Revolution mentioned