(Reuters) -Former Spanish king Juan Carlos published a memoir on Wednesday in which he details his achievements as monarch, his sadness at his estrangement from his family and self-exile from Spain, and his hopes for reconciliation.

Below are some facts about his four-decade reign and the scandals marring his legacy.

EARLY LIFE AND HANDOVER FROM DICTATORSHIP

Born in Rome in 1938 to the exiled pretender to the Spanish throne, Juan de Borbon y Battenberg, and to Maria de las Mercedes de Borbon y Orleans, he was caught up in a power game as Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco proclaimed support for the monarchy while striving to keep a tight grip on power.

Franco separated Juan Carlos from his parents when he was 10 and groomed the boy to be his successor. He was crowned two days af

See Full Page