Colonel José Moscardó Ituarte (1878-1956) was a Nationalist officer fighting against the Republican government during the Spanish Civil War.

He held the Alcázar in Toledo for Franco's Nationalist rebellion for 70 days from 22 July to 27 September 1936. During this period Republican forces kidnapped Moscardó's 24-year-old son, Luis. Luis' captors called Moscardó on the telephone to inform him that unless he surrendered the Alcazar, Luis would be shot. Moscardó asked to speak to his son. He then told Luis, "Commend your soul to God and die like a patriot, shouting 'Long live Christ King ' and 'Long live Spain'". Although a legend has grown up that Luis was immediately shot, he was not in fact executed until a month later. A similar sacrifice in Spanish history is Guzmán el Bueno , who preferred the death of his son to surrendering the Tarifa fortress. The defence of the Alcazar was a symbol of heroism in Francoist Spain.

Moscardó was promoted to general after the relief of the Alcázar, and put in command of the Soria Division. In 1938 he was given command of the Aragon Army Corps.