Somoza family

The Somoza family was an influential political dynasty who ruled Nicaragua as an hereditary dictatorship. Their influence exceeded their combined 43 years in the de facto presidency, as they were the power behind the other presidents of the time through their control of the National Guard. They ultimately fell to a revolution led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

Three of the Somozas served as President of Nicaragua. They were:

• Anastasio Somoza García (1896–1956; ruled 1937–1947, 1950–1956), the father.
• Luis Somoza Debayle (1922–1967, ruled 1956–1963), his legitimate eldest son.
• Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–1980, ruled 1967–1972, 1974–1979), his second legitimate son.

Other members of the Somoza family include:

• Hope Portocarrero, wife of Anastasio Somoza Debayle
• Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, son of Anastasio Somoza Debayle
• Bernabé Somoza, a 19th-century rebel