 The legacy of Franco in Spanish history remains controversial as the nature of his dictatorship changed over time.His reign was marked by both brutal repression, with thousands killed, and economic prosperity, which greatly improved the quality of life in Spain.His dictatorial style proved highly adaptable, which enabled wide-sweeping social and economic reform, while consistent pursuits during his reign centered on authoritarianism, nationalism, national Catholicism, anti-freemasonry, and anti-communism.