The Somoza Dynasty refers to a powerful political family in Nicaragua that dominated the country's government from the 1930s to the 1970s. The dynasty began with Anastasio Somoza García, who seized control after a coup in 1936 and established a dictatorship. His family maintained power through a combination of military force, political manipulation, and economic control. Following Anastasio, his sons, Luis Somoza Debayle and Anastasio Somoza Debayle, continued the family's rule. The dynasty faced increasing opposition, culminating in the Sandinista Revolution in 1979, which ultimately led to their downfall. The Somoza family's legacy remains controversial in Nicaraguan history.