# Minister of War (Spain)

The Spanish Minister of War (Spanish: Ministro de la Guerra) was the head of the Ministry of War [es]. The position was established as the Secretary of State (Spanish: Secretario del Despacho de Guerra) in 1714. In 1977 it was collected with the Minister of the Navy and Minister of the Air to create the Minister of Defence.

## List of officeholders
### Kingdom of Spain (1700–1810)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Government | Ref. |
| Royal Secretary of War and Treasury ||||||||
| First reign of Philip V (1700–1724) ||||||||
| 1 | | José de Grimaldo (1660–1743) | 11 July 1705 | 30 November 1714 | 9 years, 182 days | Mejorada Velasco | |
| Royal Secretary of War ||||||||
| 1 | | Miguel Fernández Durán (1681–1721) | 30 November 1714 | 21 January 1721 | 6 years, 52 days | Grimaldo I | |
| 2 | | Baltasar Patiño y Rosales [es] (1667–1733) | 21 January 1721 | 15 January 1724 | 2 years, 359 days | Grimaldo I | |
| Reign of Louis I (1724) ||||||||
| (2) | | Baltasar Patiño y Rosales [es] (1667–1733) | 15 January 1724 | 31 August 1724 | 229 days | Orendain I | |
| Second reign of Philip V (1724–1746) ||||||||
| (2) | | Baltasar Patiño y Rosales [es] (1667–1733) | 31 August 1724 | 12 December 1725 | 1 year, 103 days | Orendain I | |
| (2) | | Baltasar Patiño y Rosales [es] (1667–1733) | 31 August 1724 | 12 December 1725 | 1 year, 103 days | Grimaldo II | |
| 3 | | Baron Ripperda (1684–1737) | 12 December 1725 | 14 April 1726 | 123 days | Ripperda | |
| (2) | | Baltasar Patiño y Rosales [es] (1667–1733) | 14 April 1726 | 5 September 1730 | 4 years, 144 days | Grimaldo III Orendáin II | |
| 4 | | José Patiño y Rosales (1666–1736) | 5 September 1730 | 3 November 1736 † | 6 years, 59 days | Orendáin II Patiño | |
| – | | Marquess of Villarías (1687–1766) acting | 3 November 1736 | 18 March 1737 | 135 days | Villarías | |
| 5 | | Duke of Montemar (1671–1747) | 18 March 1737 | 27 October 1741 | 4 years, 223 days | Villarías | |
| 6 | | Marquess of Villarías (1687–1766) | 27 October 1741 | 11 April 1743 | 1 year, 166 days | Villarías | |
| 7 | | Marquess of Ensenada (1702–1781) | 11 April 1743 | 9 July 1746 | 3 years, 59 days | Villarías | |
| Reign of Ferdinand VI (1746–1759) ||||||||
| (7) | | Marquess of Ensenada (1702–1781) | 9 July 1746 | 22 July 1754 | 8 years, 13 days | Villarías Carvajal Huéscar Wall | |
| 8 | | Sebastián de Eslava (1685–1759) | 22 July 1754 | 21 June 1759 † | 4 years, 333 days | Wall | |
| 9 | | Ricardo Wall (1694–1777) | 21 June 1759 | 10 August 1759 | 81 days | Wall | |
| Reign of Charles III (1759–1788) ||||||||
| (9) | | Ricardo Wall (1694–1777) | 10 August 1759 | 1 September 1763 | 4 years, 22 days | Wall | |
| 10 | | Marquess of Esquilache (1699–1785) | 1 September 1763 | 1 April 1766 | 2 years, 212 days | Wall Grimaldi | |
| 11 | | Juan Gregorio Muniáin (1699–1772) | 1 April 1766 | 14 January 1772 † | 5 years, 288 days | Grimaldi | |
| 12 | | Ambrosio de Funes y Villalpando (1720–1782) | 14 January 1772 | 15 July 1780 | 8 years, 183 days | Grimaldi Floridablanca | |
| 13 | | Miguel de Múzquiz y Goyeneche [es] (1719–1785) | 15 July 1780 | 21 January 1785 † | 4 years, 190 days | Floridablanca | |
| 14 | | Pedro López de Lerena [es] (1734–1792) | 21 January 1785 | 29 June 1787 | 2 years, 159 days | Floridablanca | |
| 15 | | Jerónimo de Caballero y Vicente del Campo (1721–1807) | 29 June 1787 | 14 December 1788 | 1 year, 168 days | Floridablanca Supreme Council of State | |
| Reign of Charles IV (1788–1808) ||||||||
| (15) | | Jerónimo de Caballero y Vicente del Campo (1721–1807) | 14 December 1788 | 27 April 1790 | 1 year, 134 days | Supreme Council of State | |
| 16 | | Manuel Negrete de la Torre [es] (1736–1818) | 27 April 1790 | 11 December 1795 | 5 years, 228 days | Supreme Council of State Aranda Godoy | |
| 17 | | Miguel José de Azanza (1746–1826) | 11 December 1795 | 7 October 1796 | 301 days | Godoy | |
| Office abolished (held by the First Secretary of State) ||||||||
| 18 | | Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú (1742–1813) | 25 November 1807 | 19 March 1808 | 115 days | Guerra I O'Farril | |
| Reign of Ferdinand VII (1808) ||||||||
| (18) | | Antonio de Olaguer y Feliú (1742–1813) | 19 March 1808 | 5 April 1808 | 17 days | Guerra II | |
| 19 | | Gonzalo O'Farrill (1754–1831) | 5 April 1808 | 7 July 1808 | 93 days | Guerra II | |

### Spain under Joseph Bonaparte (1808–1813)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
| Minister of War |||||||
| Reign of Joseph I (1808–1813) |||||||
| 1 | | Gonzalo O'Farrill (1754–1831) | 7 July 1808 | 27 June 1813 | 4 years, 355 days | |

### Junta Suprema Central (1808–1812)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
| Royal Secretary of War |||||||
| 1 | | Antonio Cornel Ferraz Doz y Ferraz [es] (1745–1821) | 15 October 1808 | 31 January 1810 | 1 year, 108 days | |
| 2 | | Francisco de Eguía (1750–1827) | 31 January 1810 | 20 May 1810 | 109 days | |
| – | | Eusebio Bardají y Azara (1776–1842) acting | 20 May 1810 | 9 October 1810 | 109 days | |
| 3 | | José Heredia [es] (1751–1814) | 9 October 1810 | 6 February 1812 | 1 year, 120 days | |
| – | | José María Carvajal Urrutia [es] (1762–1832) acting | 6 February 1812 | 23 June 1812 | 138 days | |
| 4 | | Francisco Javier Abadía (1774–1830) | 23 June 1812 | 30 May 1813 | 341 days | |
| – | | Juan O'Donojú (1762–1821) acting | 30 May 1813 | 14 January 1814 | 229 days | |
| – | | Tomás Moreno Daoíz [es] (1765–1829) acting | 14 January 1814 | 4 May 1814 | 110 days | |

### Kingdom of Spain (1810–1873)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
| Royal Secretary of War |||||||
| Reign of Ferdinand VII (1814–1833) |||||||
| 1 | | Manuel Alberto Freire de Andrade y Armijo (1767–1835) | 4 May 1814 | 29 May 1814 | 25 days | |
| 2 | | Francisco de Eguía (1750–1827) | 29 May 1814 | 25 March 1815 | 300 days | |
| 3 | | Francisco López Ballesteros (1770–1833) | 25 March 1815 | 23 October 1815 | 212 days | |
| – | | Francisco Bernaldo de Quirós y Mariño de Lobera [es] (1763–1837) acting | 23 October 1815 | 19 June 1817 | 1 year, 239 days | |
| (2) | | Francisco de Eguía (1750–1827) | 19 June 1817 | 13 June 1819 | 1 year, 359 days | |
| – | | José María de Alós y de Mora [es] (1765–1844) acting | 13 June 1819 | 18 March 1820 | 279 days | |
| Minister of War |||||||
| 1 | | Pedro Agustín Girón (1778–1842) | 18 March 1820 | 18 August 1820 | 153 days | |
| 2 | | Juan Jabat Aztal [es] (1772–1825) | 18 August 1820 | 23 September 1820 | 36 days | |
| 3 | | Cayetano Valdés y Flores (1767–1835) | 23 September 1820 | 4 March 1821 | 162 days | |
| 4 | | Tomás Moreno Daoíz [es] (1765–1829) | 4 March 1821 | 23 August 1821 | 172 days | |
| 5 | | Diego Contador [es] (1754–1833) | 23 August 1821 | 4 September 1821 | 12 days | |
| 6 | | Ignacio Balanzat de Orvay y Briones [es] (1773–1837) | 4 September 1821 | 9 September 1821 | 5 days | |
| 7 | | Estanislao Sánchez Salvador [es] (1774–1823) | 9 September 1821 | 8 January 1822 | 121 days | |
| – | | José Castellar (?–?) acting | 9 January 1822 | 24 January 1822 | 16 days | |
| 8 | | José Cienfuegos Jovellanos [es] (1763–1825) | 24 January 1822 | 28 February 1822 | 51 days | |
| (6) | | Ignacio Balanzat de Orvay y Briones [es] (1773–1837) | 28 February 1822 | 6 July 1822 | 128 days | |
| 9 | | Miguel López de Baños [es] (1779–1861) | 10 July 1822 | 29 April 1823 | 293 days | |
| – | | Pedro de la Bárcena (1768–1836) acting | 29 April 1823 | 2 June 1823 | 293 days | |
| – | | Estanislao Sánchez Salvador [es] (1774–1823) acting | 2 June 1823 | 18 June 1823 | 16 days | |
| 10 | | Manuel de la Puente (?–?) | 21 June 1823 | 30 September 1823 | 101 days | |
| 11 | | José San Juan [es] (1777–1846) | 30 September 1823 | 2 December 1823 | 63 days | |
| Royal Secretary of War |||||||
| 1 | | José de la Cruz [es] (1777–1846) | 2 December 1823 | 26 August 1824 | 268 days | |
| – | | José Aymerich [es] (1775–1841) acting | 26 August 1824 | 13 June 1825 | 291 days | |
| – | | Luis María Salazar y Salazar [es] (1758–1838) acting | 13 June 1825 | 27 June 1825 | 14 days | |
| 2 | | Miguel Ibarrola González [es] (1776–1848) | 27 June 1825 | 1 October 1832 | 7 years, 96 days | |
| 3 | | Juan Antonio Monet [es] (1782–1837) | 1 October 1832 | 14 December 1832 | 74 days | |
| (1) | | José de la Cruz [es] (1777–1846) | 14 December 1832 | 29 November 1833 | 350 days | |
| Minister of War |||||||
| Reign of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1833–1840) |||||||
| 1 | | Antonio Remón Zarco del Valle y Huet [es] (1785–1866) | 29 November 1833 | 2 November 1834 | 338 days | |
| 2 | | Manuel Llauder [es] (1789–1851) | 2 November 1834 | 17 February 1835 | 107 days | |
| 3 | | Jerónimo Valdés (1784–1855) | 17 February 1835 | 13 June 1835 | 116 days |
| 4 | | Pedro Agustín Girón (1778–1842) | 13 June 1835 | 28 August 1835 | 76 days | |
| – | | Prudencio de Guadalfajara [es] (1761–1855) acting | 18 August 1835 | 14 September 1835 | 27 days | |
| – | | Mariano Quirós [es] (1791–1859) acting | 14 September 1835 | 27 September 1835 | 13 days | |
| 5 | | Ildefonso Díez de Rivera (1877–1846) | 27 September 1835 | 27 April 1836 | 213 days | |
| 6 | | José Ramón Rodil (1789–1853) | 27 April 1836 | 15 May 1836 | 18 days | |
| 7 | | Antonio Seoane [es] (1790–1862) | 15 May 1836 | 8 June 1836 | 24 days | |
| 8 | | Santiago Méndez Vigo [es] (1790–1860) | 8 June 1836 | 14 August 1836 | 67 days | |
| (6) | | José Ramón Rodil (1789–1853) | 20 August 1836 | 26 November 1836 | 98 days | |
| – | | Javier Rodríguez Vera (–) acting | 26 November 1836 | 27 February 1837 | 93 days | |
| (5) | | Ildefonso Díez de Rivera (1877–1846) | 27 February 1837 | 29 July 1837 | 152 days | |
| 9 | | Baldomero Espartero (1793–1879) | 29 July 1837 | 30 August 1837 | 32 days | |
| 10 | | Evaristo Fernández de San Miguel (1785–1862) | 30 August 1837 | 1 October 1837 | 32 days | |
| 11 | | Ignacio Balanzat de Orvay y Briones [es] (1773–1837) | 1 October 1837 | 4 October 1837 | 3 days | |
| 12 | | Francisco Ramonet [es] (1774–1844) | 4 October 1837 | 8 December 1837 | 65 days | |
| – | | Jacobo María Espinosa [es] (1793–1853) acting | 8 December 1837 | 16 December 1837 | 8 days | |
| (9) | | Baldomero Espartero (1793–1879) | 16 December 1837 | 17 January 1838 | 32 days | |
| 13 | | José Carratalá [es] (1792–1855) | 17 January 1838 | 19 March 1838 | 61 days | |
| 14 | | Manuel Latre [es] (1789–1840) | 19 March 1838 | 16 September 1838 | 181 days | |
| 15 | | Isidro de Alaix Fábregas (1790–1853) | 16 September 1838 | 30 October 1839 | 1 year, 44 days | |
| – | | Francisco Narváez Bordese (1793–1865) | 30 October 1839 | 16 November 1839 | 39 days | |
| 16 | | Francisco Narváez Bordese (1793–1865) | 16 November 1839 | 8 April 1840 | 144 days | |
| – | | Fernando de Norzagaray (1808–1860) acting | 8 April 1840 | 14 April 1840 | 6 days | |
| 17 | | Serafín María de Sotto (1793–1862) | 14 April 1840 | 19 July 1840 | 96 days | |
| 18 | | Valentín Ferraz y Barrau (1792–1866) | 20 July 1840 | 28 August 1840 | 39 days | |
| 19 | | Francisco Javier Azpiroz [es] (1797–1868) | 28 August 1840 | 11 September 1840 | 14 days | |
| 20 | | Facundo Infante [es] (1786–1873) | 11 September 1840 | 16 September 1840 | 5 days | |
| Regency of Baldomero Espartero (1840–1843) |||||||
| 21 | | Pedro Chacón y Chacón (1789–1854) | 16 September 1840 | 20 May 1841 | 246 days | |
| 22 | | Evaristo Fernández de San Miguel (1785–1862) | 20 May 1841 | 17 June 1842 | 1 year, 28 days | |
| 23 | | José Ramón Rodil (1789–1853) | 17 June 1842 | 9 May 1843 | 326 days | |
| 24 | | Francisco Serrano (1810–1885) | 9 May 1843 | 19 May 1843 | 10 days | |
| 25 | | Isidoro Rubín de Celis [es] (1793–1876) | 19 May 1843 | 24 May 1843 | 5 days | |
| – | | Agustín Nogueras [es] (1786–1857) acting | 24 May 1843 | 30 July 1843 | 67 days | |
| Reign of Isabella II (1843–1868) |||||||
| (24) | | Francisco Serrano (1810–1885) | 30 July 1843 | 1 December 1843 | 124 days | |
| 26 | | Manuel Mazarredo [es] (1807–1857) | 5 December 1843 | 3 May 1844 | 150 days | |
| 27 | | Ramón María Narváez (1800–1868) | 3 May 1844 | 12 February 1846 | 1 year, 285 days | |
| 28 | | Federico Roncali (1800–1857) | 12 February 1846 | 16 March 1846 | 32 days | |
| (27) | | Ramón María Narváez (1800–1868) | 16 March 1846 | 5 April 1846 | 20 days | |
| – | | Francisco Armero (1804–1866) acting | 5 April 1846 | 12 April 1846 | 7 days | |
| 29 | | José Laureano Sanz [es] (1793–1868) | 12 April 1846 | 28 January 1847 | 291 days | |
| 30 | | Manuel Pavía y Lacy (1793–1868) | 28 January 1847 | 15 February 1847 | 18 days | |
| 31 | | Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri (1788–1851) | 15 February 1847 | 28 March 1847 | 41 days | |
| (26) | | Manuel Mazarredo [es] (1807–1857) | 28 March 1847 | 31 August 1847 | 156 days | |
| 32 | | Fernando Fernández de Cordova (1807–1857) | 31 August 1847 | 3 November 1847 | 64 days | |
| (27) | | Ramón María Narváez (1800–1868) | 3 November 1847 | 24 December 1847 | 51 days | |
| 33 | | Francisco de Paula Figueras [es] (1786–1858) | 24 December 1847 | 19 October 1849 | 1 year, 299 days | |
| 34 | | Serafín María de Sotto (1793–1862) | 19 October 1849 | 20 October 1849 | 1 day | |
| (33) | | Francisco de Paula Figueras [es] (1786–1858) | 20 October 1849 | 14 January 1851 | 1 year, 86 days | |
| 35 | | Rafael Arístegui y Vélez [es] (1794–1863) | 14 January 1851 | 6 February 1851 | 23 days | |
| 36 | | Francisco Lersundi Hormaechea (1817–1874) | 6 February 1851 | 16 January 1852 | 344 days | |
| 37 | | Joaquín Ezpeleta Enrile (1788–1863) | 16 January 1852 | 13 June 1852 | 149 days | |
| 38 | | Juan de Lara [es] (1809–1869) | 13 June 1852 | 27 November 1852 | 167 days | |
| 39 | | Cayetano Urbina y Daoiz [es] (1797–1867) | 27 November 1852 | 14 December 1852 | 17 days | |
| (38) | | Juan de Lara [es] (1809–1869) | 14 December 1852 | 14 April 1853 | 121 days | |
| (36) | | Francisco Lersundi Hormaechea (1817–1874) | 14 April 1853 | 19 September 1853 | 158 days | |
| 40 | | Anselmo Blaser [es] (1807–1872) | 19 September 1853 | 18 July 1854 | 302 days | |
| (32) | | Fernando Fernández de Cordova (1807–1857) | 18 July 1854 | 30 July 1854 | 12 days | |
| 41 | | Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809–1867) | 30 July 1854 | 12 October 1856 | 2 years, 74 days | |
| 42 | | Juan Antonio de Urbiztondo (1803–1857) | 12 October 1856 | 16 December 1856 | 65 days | |
| (33) | | Francisco de Paula Figueras [es] (1786–1858) | 16 December 1856 | 15 October 1857 | 303 days | |
| 43 | | Francisco Armero (1804–1866) | 15 October 1857 | 14 January 1858 | 91 days | |
| 43 | | Fermín de Ezpeleta [es] (1801–1869) | 14 January 1858 | 30 June 1858 | 167 days | |
| (41) | | Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809–1867) | 30 June 1858 | 2 March 1863 | 4 years, 217 days | |
| 44 | | José Gutiérrez de la Concha (1809–1895) | 2 March 1863 | 17 January 1864 | 349 days | |
| (36) | | Francisco Lersundi Hormaechea (1817–1874) | 17 January 1864 | 1 March 1864 | 44 days | |
| 45 | | José María Marchessi y Oleaga [es] (1801–1882) | 1 March 1864 | 16 September 1864 | 199 days | |
| (32) | | Fernando Fernández de Cordova (1807–1857) | 16 September 1864 | 30 March 1865 | 226 days | |
| 46 | | Felipe Rivero y Lemoine (1797–1873) | 30 March 1865 | 21 June 1865 | 83 days | |
| (41) | | Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809–1867) | 21 June 1865 | 10 July 1866 | 1 year, 19 days | |
| (27) | | Ramón María Narváez (1800–1868) | 10 July 1866 | 23 April 1868 | 1 year, 288 days | |
| 47 | | Rafael Mayalde [es] (1805–1870) | 23 April 1868 | 19 September 1868 | 149 days | |
| (44) | | José Gutiérrez de la Concha (1809–1895) | 19 September 1868 | 30 September 1868 | 11 days | |
| Provisional Government (1868–1871) (Sexenio Democrático) |||||||
| 48 | | Juan Prim (1814–1870) | 8 October 1868 | 27 December 1870 | 2 years, 80 days | |
| – | | Juan Bautista Topete (1821–1885) acting | 27 December 1870 | 4 January 1871 | 8 days | |
| Reign of Amadeo I (1871–1873) |||||||
| – | | Francisco Serrano (1810–1885) acting | 4 January 1871 | 24 July 1871 | 201 days | |
| – | | Fernando Fernández de Córdova (1809–1883) acting | 24 July 1871 | 5 October 1871 | 73 days | |
| 49 | | Joaquín Bassols [es] (1797–1872) | 5 October 1871 | 21 December 1871 | 77 days | |
| 50 | | Eugenio Gaminde [es] (1812–1878) | 21 December 1871 | 20 February 1872 | 61 days | |
| 51 | | Antonio del Rey y Caballero [es] (1814–1886) | 20 February 1872 | 8 April 1872 | 48 days | |
| 52 | | Juan de Zavala (1804–1879) | 8 April 1872 | 26 May 1872 | 48 days | |
| (24) | | Francisco Serrano (1810–1885) | 26 May 1872 | 13 June 1872 | 18 days | |
| (32) | | Fernando Fernández de Córdova (1809–1883) | 13 June 1872 | 12 February 1873 | 244 days | |

### First Spanish Republic (1873–1874)

| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Government | Ref. |
| Minister of War ||||||||
| 1 | | Fernando Fernández de Córdova (1809–1883) | 12 February 1873 | 24 February 1873 | 12 days | Figueras I | |
| 2 | | Juan Acosta Muñoz [es] (1819–1887) | 24 February 1873 | 30 April 1873 | 65 days | Figueras II | |
| 3 | | Ramon Nouvilas (1812–1880) | 30 April 1873 | 7 June 1873 | 38 days | Figueras II | |
| – | | Estanislao Figueras (1819–1882) acting | 7 June 1873 | 11 June 1873 | 4 days | Figueras II | |
| 4 | | Nicolás Estévanez (1838–1914) | 11 June 1873 | 28 June 1873 | 17 days | Pi y Margall | |
| 5 | | Eulogio González Íscar [es] (1818–1897) | 28 June 1873 | 4 September 1873 | 68 days | Pi y Margall Salmerón y Alonso | |
| – | | Jacobo Oreyro y Villavicencio [es] (1822–1881) acting | 7 September 1873 | 9 September 1873 | 2 days | Castelar | |
| 6 | | José Sánchez Bregua [es] (1818–1897) | 9 September 1873 | 3 January 1874 | 116 days | Castelar | |
| 7 | | Juan de Zavala (1804–1879) | 3 January 1874 | 29 June 1874 | 177 days | Serrano | |
| – | | Fernando Cotoner y Chacón (1817–1888) acting | 29 June 1874 | 3 September 1874 | 66 days | Serrano | |
| 8 | | Francisco Serrano Bedoya [es] (1812–1882) | 3 September 1874 | 31 December 1874 | 119 days | Sagasta III | |

### Kingdom of Spain (1874–1931)

| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Government | Ref. |
| Minister of War ||||||||
| Reign of Alfonso XII (1874–1885) ||||||||
| 1 | | Joaquín Jovellar y Soler (1819–1892) | 31 December 1874 | 21 December 1875 | 355 days | Cánovas del Castillo I Jovellar y Soler | |
| 2 | | Francisco de Ceballos y Vargas (1814–1883) | 21 December 1875 | 7 March 1879 | 3 years, 76 days | Jovellar y Soler Cánovas del Castillo II | |
| 3 | | Arsenio Martínez Campos (1831–1900) | 7 March 1879 | 9 December 1879 | 277 days | Martínez Campos | |
| 4 | | José Ignacio de Echavarría [es] (1817–1898) | 9 December 1879 | 8 February 1881 | 1 year, 61 days | Cánovas del Castillo III | |
| (3) | | Arsenio Martínez Campos (1831–1900) | 8 February 1881 | 13 October 1883 | 2 years, 247 days | Sagasta IV | |
| 5 | | José López Domínguez (1829–1911) | 13 October 1883 | 18 January 1884 | 97 days | Posada Herrera | |
| 6 | | Jenaro Quesada (1818–1889) | 18 January 1884 | 27 November 1885 | 1 year, 313 days | Cánovas del Castillo IV | |
| Regency of Maria Christina of Austria (1885–1902) ||||||||
| (1) | | Joaquín Jovellar y Soler (1819–1892) | 27 November 1885 | 10 October 1886 | 317 days | Sagasta V | |
| 7 | | Ignacio María del Castillo [es] (1817–1893) | 10 October 1886 | 8 March 1887 | 149 days | Sagasta V | |
| 8 | | Manuel Cassola (1838–1890) | 8 March 1887 | 14 June 1888 | 1 year, 98 days | Sagasta V | |
| 9 | | Thomás O'Ryan y Vázquez (1821–1902) | 14 June 1888 | 11 December 1888 | 180 days | Sagasta VI | |
| 10 | | José Chinchilla [es] (1839–1899) | 11 December 1888 | 21 January 1890 | 1 year, 41 days | Sagasta VII | |
| 11 | | Eduardo Bermúdez Reina [es] (1831–1899) | 21 January 1890 | 5 July 1890 | 165 days | Sagasta VIII | |
| 12 | | Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero (1832–1915) | 5 July 1890 | 11 December 1892 | 2 years, 159 days | Cánovas del Castillo VI–VII | |
| (5) | | José López Domínguez (1829–1911) | 11 December 1892 | 23 March 1895 | 2 years, 102 days | Sagasta IX–X–XI | |
| (12) | | Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero (1832–1915) | 23 March 1895 | 4 October 1897 | 2 years, 195 days | Cánovas del Castillo VIII Azcárraga Palmero I | |
| 13 | | Miguel Correa y García [es] (1832–1900) | 4 October 1897 | 4 March 1899 | 1 year, 151 days | Sagasta XII–XIII | |
| 14 | | Camilo García de Polavieja (1838–1914) | 4 March 1899 | 2 October 1899 | 212 days | Silvela I | |
| (12) | | Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero (1832–1915) | 2 October 1899 | 18 October 1900 | 1 year, 16 days | Silvela I–II | |
| 15 | | Arsenio Linares y Pombo (1848–1914) | 18 October 1900 | 6 March 1901 | 139 days | Azcárraga Palmero II | |
| 16 | | Valeriano Weyler (1838–1930) | 6 March 1901 | 17 May 1902 | 1 year, 72 days | Sagasta XIV–XV | |
| Reign of Alfonso XIII (1902–1931) ||||||||
| (16) | | Valeriano Weyler (1838–1930) | 17 May 1902 | 6 December 1902 | 203 days | Sagasta XVI–XVII | |
| (15) | | Arsenio Linares y Pombo (1848–1914) | 6 December 1902 | 20 July 1903 | 226 days | Silvela III | |
| 17 | | Vicente Martitegui [es] (1843–1912) | 20 July 1903 | 5 December 1903 | 138 days | Villaverde I | |
| (15) | | Arsenio Linares y Pombo (1848–1914) | 5 December 1903 | 16 December 1904 | 1 year, 11 days | Maura I | |
| 18 | | César del Villar y Villate [es] (1843–1917) | 16 December 1904 | 27 January 1905 | 42 days | Azcárraga Palmero III | |
| (17) | | Vicente Martitegui [es] (1843–1912) | 27 January 1905 | 23 June 1905 | 147 days | Villaverde II | |
| (16) | | Valeriano Weyler (1838–1930) | 23 June 1905 | 1 December 1905 | 161 days | Montero Ríos I–II | |
| 19 | | Agustín de Luque y Coca (1850–1937) | 1 December 1905 | 6 July 1906 | 217 days | Moret I | |
| (5) | | José López Domínguez (1829–1911) | 6 July 1906 | 15 October 1906 | 131 days | Domínguez | |
| (19) | | Agustín de Luque y Coca (1850–1937) | 15 October 1906 | 4 December 1906 | 50 days | Domínguez Moret II | |
| (16) | | Valeriano Weyler (1838–1930) | 4 December 1906 | 25 January 1907 | 52 days | Aguilar | |
| 20 | | Francisco de Paula Loño y Pérez [es] (1837–1907) | 25 January 1907 | 3 July 1907 | 159 days | Maura II | |
| 21 | | Fernando Primo de Rivera (1831–1921) | 3 July 1907 | 1 March 1909 | 1 year, 241 days | Maura II | |
| (15) | | Arsenio Linares y Pombo (1848–1914) | 1 March 1909 | 21 October 1909 | 234 days | Maura II | |
| (19) | | Agustín de Luque y Coca (1850–1937) | 21 October 1909 | 9 February 1910 | 111 days | Moret III | |
| 22 | | Ángel Aznar y Butigieg [es] (1847–1924) | 9 February 1910 | 3 April 1911 | 1 year, 53 days | Canalejas I–II | |
| (19) | | Agustín de Luque y Coca (1850–1937) | 3 April 1911 | 27 October 1913 | 2 years, 207 days | Canalejas III de Figueroa I–II | |
| 23 | | Ramón Echagüe y Méndez Vigo [es] (1852–1917) | 27 October 1913 | 9 December 1915 | 2 years, 43 days | Dato I | |
| (19) | | Agustín de Luque y Coca (1850–1937) | 9 December 1915 | 19 April 1917 | 1 year, 131 days | de Figueroa III | |
| 24 | | Francisco Aguilera y Egea [es] (1857–1931) | 19 April 1917 | 11 June 1917 | 53 days | Prieto I | |
| (21) | | Fernando Primo de Rivera (1831–1921) | 11 June 1917 | 18 October 1917 | 129 days | Dato II | |
| 25 | | José Marina Vega (1850–1926) | 18 October 1917 | 3 November 1917 | 16 days | Dato II | |
| 26 | | Juan de la Cierva y Peñafiel (1850–1926) | 3 November 1917 | 22 March 1918 | 139 days | Prieto II | |
| (25) | | José Marina Vega (1850–1926) | 22 March 1918 | 9 November 1918 | 232 days | Maura III | |
| 27 | | Dámaso Berenguer (1873–1953) | 9 November 1918 | 27 January 1919 | 79 days | Prieto III de Figueroa IV | |
| 28 | | Diego Muñoz Cobos [es] (1854–1937) | 27 January 1919 | 15 April 1919 | 78 days | de Figueroa IV | |
| 29 | | Luis de Santiago y Aguirrevengoa [es] (1854–1930) | 15 April 1919 | 20 July 1919 | 5 days | Maura IV | |
| 30 | | Antonio Tovar y Marcoleta [es] (1847–1925) | 20 July 1919 | 12 December 1919 | 236 days | de Toca | |
| – | | Manuel Allendesalazar y Muñoz (1856–1923) acting | 12 December 1919 | 15 December 1919 | 3 days | Muñoz I | |
| 31 | | José Villalba Riquelme [es] (1856–1944) | 15 December 1919 | 5 May 1920 | 142 days | Muñoz I | |
| 32 | | Luis de Marichalar y Monreal [es] (1873–1945) | 5 May 1920 | 14 August 1921 | 1 year, 101 days | Dato III Muñoz II | |
| (26) | | Juan de la Cierva y Peñafiel (1850–1926) | 14 August 1921 | 8 March 1922 | 206 days | Maura V | |
| 33 | | José Olaguer Feliú (1857–1929) | 8 March 1922 | 15 July 1922 | 129 days | Sánchez-Guerra y Martínez | |
| – | | José Sánchez-Guerra y Martínez (1859–1935) acting | 15 July 1922 | 7 December 1922 | 145 days | Sánchez-Guerra y Martínez | |
| 34 | | Niceto Alcalá-Zamora (1877–1949) | 7 December 1922 | 26 May 1923 | 170 days | de Figueroa V | |
| 35 | | Luis Aizpuru y Mondéjar [es] (1857–1939) | 26 May 1923 | 15 September 1923 | 112 days | de Figueroa V | |
| Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923–1931) ||||||||
| 36 | | Luis Bermúdez de Castro [es] (1864–1957) | 15 September 1923 | 4 July 1924 | 324 days | Military Directory | |
| 37 | | Juan O'Donnell (1864–1928) | 4 July 1924 | 12 October 1928 † | 4 years, 100 days | Military Directory Civil Directory | |
| Minister of the Army ||||||||
| 1 | | Julio Ardanaz [es] (1860–1939) | 3 November 1928 | 30 January 1930 | 1 year, 88 days | Civil Directory | |
| 2 | | Dámaso Berenguer (1873–1953) | 30 January 1930 | 14 April 1931 | 1 year, 74 days | Civil Directory Berenguer Aznar-Cabañas | |

### Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| Minister of War ||||||||||
| 1 | | Manuel Azaña (1880–1940) | 14 April 1931 | 12 September 1933 | 2 years, 151 days | | Republican Left | Provisional government Azaña II–III | |
| 2 | | Juan José Rocha García [es] (1877–1938) | 12 September 1933 | 8 October 1933 | 26 days | | Radical Republican Party | Lerroux I | |
| 3 | | Vicente Iranzo [es] (1889–1961) | 8 October 1933 | 16 December 1933 | 69 days | | Independent | Barrio I | |
| 4 | | Diego Martínez Barrio (1883–1962) | 16 December 1933 | 23 January 1934 | 38 days | | Radical Republican Party | Lerroux II | |
| 5 | | Diego Hidalgo y Durán (1886–1961) | 23 January 1934 | 16 November 1934 | 297 days | | Radical Republican Party | Lerroux II–III Samper Lerroux IV | |
| 6 | | Alejandro Lerroux (1864–1949) | 16 November 1934 | 3 April 1935 | 138 days | | Radical Republican Party | Lerroux IV | |
| 7 | | Carlos Masquelet [es] (1871–1948) | 3 April 1935 | 6 May 1935 | 33 days | | Military | Lerroux V | |
| 8 | | José María Gil-Robles y Quiñones (1898–1980) | 6 May 1935 | 14 December 1935 | 222 days | | CEDA | Lerroux VI Chapaprieta I–II | |
| 9 | | Nicolás Molero [es] (1870–1947) | 14 December 1935 | 19 February 1936 | 67 days | | Military | Portela I–II | |
| (7) | | Carlos Masquelet [es] (1871–1948) | 19 February 1936 | 13 May 1936 | 84 days | | Military | Azaña IV–V Trelles | |
| 10 | | Santiago Casares Quiroga (1884–1950) | 13 May 1936 | 19 July 1936 | 67 days | | Military | Quiroga | |
| 11 | | José Miaja (1878–1958) | 19 July 1936 | 19 July 1936 | 0 days | | Military | Barrio II | |
| 12 | | Luis Castello Pantoja (1881–1962) | 19 July 1936 | 6 August 1936 | 18 days | | Military | Giral | |
| 13 | | Juan Hernández Saravia (1880–1962) | 6 August 1936 | 4 September 1936 | 29 days | | Military | Giral | |
| 14 | | Francisco Largo Caballero (1869–1946) | 4 September 1936 | 17 May 1937 | 255 days | | PSOE | Caballero I–II | |

### Francoist Spain (1936–1975)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| Minister of the Army ||||||||||
| 1 | | Lieutenant general José Enrique Varela (1891–1951) | 9 August 1939 | 3 September 1942 | 3 years, 25 days | | Military | Franco II | |
| 2 | | Lieutenant general Carlos Asensio Cabanillas (1896–1970) | 3 September 1942 | 20 July 1945 | 2 years, 320 days | | Military | Franco II | |
| 3 | | Lieutenant general Fidel Dávila Arrondo (1878–1962) | 20 July 1945 | 19 July 1951 | 5 years, 364 days | | Military | Franco III | |
| 4 | | Lieutenant general Agustín Muñoz Grandes (1896–1970) | 19 July 1951 | 25 February 1957 | 5 years, 221 days | | Military | Franco IV | |
| 5 | | Lieutenant general Antonio Barroso Sánchez-Guerra (1893–1982) | 25 February 1957 | 11 July 1962 | 5 years, 136 days | | Military | Franco V | |
| 6 | | Lieutenant general Pablo Martín Alonso (1896–1964) | 11 July 1962 | 11 February 1964 † | 1 year, 215 days | | Military | Franco VI | |
| – | | Admiral Pedro Nieto Antúnez (1898–1978) acting | 11 February 1964 | 25 February 1964 | 14 days | | Military | Franco VI | |
| 7 | | General Camilo Menéndez Tolosa (1899–1971) | 25 February 1964 | 30 October 1969 | 5 years, 247 days | | Military | Franco VI–VII | |
| 8 | | Lieutenant general Juan Castañón de Mena (1903–1982) | 30 October 1969 | 9 June 1973 | 3 years, 222 days | | Military | Franco VIII | |
| 9 | | General Francisco Coloma Gallegos (1912–1993) | 12 June 1973 | 12 December 1975 | 2 years, 183 days | | Military | Blanco Navarro I | |

### Kingdom of Spain (1975–present)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| Minister of the Army ||||||||||
| Reign of Juan Carlos I (1975–2014) ||||||||||
| 1 | | Lieutenant general Félix Álvarez-Arenas (1913–1992) | 11 December 1975 | 4 July 1977 | 1 year, 205 days | | Military | Navarro II Suárez I | |