Generalissimo

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For other uses, see Generalissimo (disambiguation).
Francisco Franco, Generalissimo of Spain
Francisco Franco, Generalissimo of Spain from 1936 to 1975.

Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)		 Navies,
coast guards		 Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
General officers, Flag officers, Air officers
Marshal or
field marshal		 Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general		 Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general		 Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general		 Rear admiral or
counter admiral		 Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore or
flotilla admiral		 Air commodore
Senior officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-line)
Captain		 Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Commander or
frigate captain		 Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Lieutenant
commander or corvette captain		 Squadron leader
Junior officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant		 Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Senior NCOs
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer or
Flight Sergeant
Junior NCOs
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Corporal or
bombardier		 Leading seaman Corporal
Enlisted ranks
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
specialist		 Able seaman Leading aircraftman or
Air specialist
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
Sepoy or
sapper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator
Proposed insignia of the Generalissimus of USSR, (only held by Joseph Stalin)
Proposed insignia of the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (only held by Joseph Stalin)

Generalissimo[1] (/ˌdʒɛn(ə)rəˈlɪsɪmoʊ/ JEN-(ə-)rə-LIS-ih-moh), also generalissimus, is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to field marshal and other five-star ranks in the states where they are used.

Usage

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The word generalissimo (pronounced [dʒeneraˈlissimo]), an Italian term, is the absolute superlative of generale ('general') thus meaning "the highest-ranking of all generals". The superlative suffix -issimo itself derives from Latin -issimus,[2][3][4][5][6] meaning "utmost, to the highest grade". Similar cognates in other languages include generalísimo in Spanish, generalíssimo in Portuguese, généralissime in French, and generalissimus in Latin. The Russian word генералиссимус, generalissimus comes from Latin.[7]

Historically, this rank was given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a state,[8] usually only subordinate to the sovereign.[9] Alternatively, those of imperial blood or the commanders-in-chief of several allied armies could gain the title.[10] The military leader Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1632 became the first imperial generalissimo (general of the generals) of the Holy Roman Empire. Other usage of the title has been for the commander of the united armies of several allied powers (such as Ferdinand Foch on the Western Front in 1918 or Joseph Stalin on the Eastern Front in 1945), or if a senior military officer becomes a chief of state or a head of government (like Chiang Kai-shek in the Republic of China or Francisco Franco in Spain).

The rank generalissimus of the Soviet Union would have been a generalissimo but some sources assert that Joseph Stalin refused to accept the rank.[11][12] In fact the grade was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, which did not need the approval of Stalin.[13] The rank of generalissimo for Stalin was used also by Western diplomacy.[14]

In the 20th century, the term came to be associated with military officers who took dictatorial power in their respective countries, especially due to the Spanish leader Francisco Franco having this rank. As such, it is used in literature depicting fictional Latin American dictatorial regimes, for example Father Hilary's Holiday by Bruce Marshall.[15]

List of generalissimos

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Main category: Generalissimos
Person Service Country Era Notes
Prince Adolph John, Count Palatine of Kleeburg The Deluge File:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Sweden 1655–1660 Named "Generalissimo of the Swedish armies in Poland and Prussia" by his brother King Charles X Gustav of Sweden[16]
Emilio Aguinaldo Philippine Revolutionary Army File:Flag of the Philippines (1898–1901).svg Philippines 1898–1901 Generalissimo of the Katipunan[17]
Crown Prince Charles John Royal Swedish Army File:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Sweden 1810–1818 Named Generalissimo of the Swedish Armed Forces on October 20, 1810, upon his arrival to Sweden. Charles John had the singular distinction of having been offered the role of Generalissimo of four different nations: Sweden (accepted), Imperial Russia, offered by Alexander during the Conference at Åbo in 1812,[18] of a restored Bourbon France in 1814 (offered by Louis XVIII's brother the Comte D'Artois),[19] and a desperate offer by Napoleon in early 1814 as an inducement for Sweden to switch its alliance to France.[20] Charles John declined the latter three.[21][22][Note 1]
Prince Charles Gustav Thirty Years' War File:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Sweden 1648–1650 He was named "Generalissimo of all Swedish forces in Germany" by his cousin Queen Christina of Sweden in January 1648, however he didn't accomplish much as commander of the Swedish forces in Germany as the war ended in October of the same year.[23]
Chiang Kai-shek National Revolutionary Army File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China 1926–1975 Appointed commander in chief of the Nationalist Army for the Northern Expedition.[24] Appointed "general special class" (特級上將 Tèjí shàng jiàng) in 1935
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough War of the Spanish Succession File:Statenvlag.svg Dutch Republic 1702 Referred to as generalissimo by the Dutch States General[25]
Ferdinand Foch French Army File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg France 1918 Généralissime was the title used to describe Marshal Ferdinand Foch's Allied Command, starting March 26, 1918. He actually held the rank of général de division, the dignity (rank) of Marshal of France and later the ranks of British field marshal and Marshal of Poland.[26]
Deodoro da Fonseca Brazilian Army File:Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg Brazil 1890 [27]
Francisco Franco Spanish Armed Forces File:Flag of Spain (1945–1977).svg Spain 1936–1975 Generalísimo was used as a combination rank as he held the highest possible rank in all three branches of service: capitán general, capitán general del Aire, and capitán general de la Armada.[28]
Prince Consort Frederick of Hesse Royal Swedish Army File:Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg Sweden 1716–1720 Fredrick was named "Generalissimo of the Swedish Armed forces to horse and foot" in 1716 by King Charles XII.[29]
Maurice Gamelin French Army File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg France 1939 His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime.
Prince George of Denmark British Army File:Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Great Britain 1702–1708 Declared "generalissimo of all our Forces within Our Kingdom of England and Ireland and Elsewhere" by his wife Queen Anne[30][31]
Máximo Gómez Cuban Liberation Army File:Flag of Cuba (1902–1906).svg Cuba 1895–1898 [32]
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Revolutionary Army of Mexico File:Estandarte de Hidalgo.svg Mexico 1810–1811 [33]
Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa) Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan File:Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg Japan 1926–1945 Dai-gensui, as sovereign ruler of the Empire of Japan[34]
Agustín de Iturbide Mexican Army File:Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg Mexico 1821–1823 [35]
James, Duke of York Third Anglo-Dutch War File:Flag of England.svg England 1673 "Generalissimo and supreme commander" over forces employed against the Dutch.[30]
Joseph Joffre French Army File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg France 1914 His dignity (rank) was Marshal of France, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Army was généralissime.[36]
Kalākaua Hawaiian Army File:Flag of Hawaii (1896).svg Hawaii 1886–1891 King of Hawaii, was given titles of "supreme commander and generalissimo of the Hawaiian Army".[37]
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg Austrian Army File:Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg Austrian Empire 1813–1814 Generalissimo of the Armies of the Habsburg Empire and senior Field Marshal of the combined forces of the Sixth Coalition. He led the largest Allied field army, the Army of Bohemia, during the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 and the Invasion of France in early 1814.[38]
Kim Il Sung Korean People's Army File:Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea 1992 Taewonsu[39][40]
Kim Jong Il Korean People's Army File:Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea 2012 Taewonsu (posthumously awarded)[41][40]
Louis, Grand Dauphin War of the Spanish Succession File:Royal Standard of the King of France.svg France 1708 Commanded the French Army[42]
Mao Zedong People's Liberation Army File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China 1955 Proposed the rank of Generalissimo of the People's Republic of China (declined usage)
Alexander Danilovich Menshikov Imperial Russian Army File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 1727–1728 [43]
Francisco de Miranda Venezuelan Army File:Flag of Venezuela (1811).svg Venezuela 1812
José María Morelos Revolutionary Army of Mexico File:Bandera y Estandarte de Morelos.svg Mexico 1813–1815 [44]
Ihsan Nuri Ararat Forces File:Kurdish flag (Khoiboun).svg Ararat 1927–1930 [45]
Alexander Suvorov Imperial Russian Army File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 1799
Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick Imperial Russian Army File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 1740–1741 [46]
Maxime Weygand French Army File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg France 1940 His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime.
José de San Martín Peruvian Army File:Flag of Peru (1821-1822).svg Peru 1821–1822 Generalísimo de las Armas del Perú
Joseph Stalin Soviet Armed Forces File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 – 1955).svg Soviet Union 1945 Generalissimus of the Soviet Union[47] (declined usage)
Sun Yat-sen National Pacification Army File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China 1921 Technically as dayuanshuai or "grand marshal of the army and navy"[48][49]
Rafael Trujillo Dominican Army File:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic 1930 [50]
Albrecht von Wallenstein Thirty Years' War File:Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg Holy Roman Empire 1625 Via the "Principal Decree of the Imperial Deputation"[51][52]
George Washington Continental Army
United States Army		 File:Flag of the United States (1776–1777).svg United States 1776 When chosen to be the commander-in-chief, was called by The Virginia Gazette the generalissimo of American forces.[53] Promoted posthumously to General of the Armies of the United States on January 19, 1976, with date of rank of July 4, 1976[54]
William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe Royal Portuguese Army File:Flag Portugal (1750).svg Portugal 1762–1763 Became Generalissimus of the Allied Armies in Portugal during the Spanish invasion
Yuan Shikai Beiyang Army File:Flag of the Republic of China 1912-1928.svg Republic of China (1912–1949) 1913–1916 Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo (dayuanshuai) in 1913
Zhang Zuolin National Pacification Army File:Flag of the Republic of China 1912-1928.svg Republic of China (1912–1949) 1927–1928 Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo (dayuanshuai) in June 1927[55]
Our Lady of Aparecida Brazilian Army File:Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg Brazil 1967 Patroness of Brazil, uses the feminine equivalent title Generalissima.[56]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Napoleonic Marshal of France Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo, was elected Crown Prince of Sweden by the Riksdag of the Estates and King Charles XIII in 1810. Given his exalted French military rank, the rank of generalissimus was likely granted him in order to give him precedence over "mere" Swedish field marshals. Once he became King of Sweden and Norway in 1818, the generalissimus rank became superfluous.

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)., French Larousse Étymologique.
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  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (Subscription or participating institution membership required.) - "A supreme commander; spec. an officer in command of a combined military, naval, and air force, or of several armies. Also: a prefixed title or form of address for such a commander. Frequently figurative."
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ S. M. Shtemenko. The General Staff in the War Years. Moscow, 1985. Vietnamese version (vol. 2) . pp. 587–588.
  13. ^ Сборник законов СССР и Указов Президиума Верховного Совета СССР (1938 — июль 1956) / Сост.: М. И. Юмашев, Б. А. Жалейко. — М., 1956. — С. 202.
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Marshall, B: Father Hilary's Holiday Doubleday & Company, New York 1965.
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Whitefield, George. "Annual report of Major General George W. Davis, United States Army commanding Division of the Philippines from October 1, 1902, to July 26, 1903" (1903) [Textual record]. Archive.Org, ID: annualreportofma03unit, p. 188. Boston Public Library. OCLC 1039990497.
  18. ^ Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 39. John Murray, London.
  19. ^ Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 127. John Murray, London.
  20. ^ Scott, Franklin (1935). Bernadotte and the Fall of Napoleon. P. 153. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
  21. ^ (in Swedish) Ancienneté och Rang-Rulla öfver Krigsmagten år 1813
  22. ^ Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 4. John Murray, London.
  23. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ^ The New York Times, December 4, 1926, pg.6.
  25. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ John McGroarty :The Gray Man of Christ: Generalissimo Foch (1919) Los Angeles, Walter A Abbott
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ "Franco of Iberia". Time, October 18, 1943. cover.
  29. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  30. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  32. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  33. ^ Comunica Miguel Hidalgo su proclamaci n como General simo de Am rica Archived September 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Documentos Historicos de Mexico, October 24, 1810.
  34. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  43. ^ "Menschikow und Stalin waren die einzigen Heerführer der russischen Geschichte, die sich 'Generalissimus' nennen ließen." [Menshikov and Stalin were the only military leaders in Russian history who declared themselves "generalissimus".] Jena, Detlev (1996): Die russischen Zaren in Lebensbildern, Graz, p. 520.
  44. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  45. ^ Bletch Chirguh, La Question Kurde: ses origines et ses causes, Le Caire, Impimerie Paul Barbey, 1930, front cover, Ihsan Nouri Pacha Généralissime des forces nationales Kurdes (in French)
  46. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  47. ^ Joseph Stalin was appointed generalissimus of the Soviet Union. See: Ivan Aleksandrovich Venediktov, Selskokhozyaystvennaya entsiklopediya, Vol. 4, Gos. izd-vo selkhoz, 1956, p. 584. Archived March 11, 2023, at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
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  50. ^ Stanley Walker, Generalissimo Rafael L. Trujillo (1955) Caribbean Library
  51. ^ A short history of Germany. Ernest Flagg Henderson, 1908
  52. ^ Tilly und Wallenstein – ein Vergleich zweier Heerführer. Harry Horstmann, 2010. (in German)
  53. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  54. ^ Public Law 94-479 of January 19, 1976 to provide for the appointment of George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States
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