Generalissimo

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File:Francisco Franco 1975 (cropped).jpg

Francisco Franco, Generalissimo of Spain from 1936 to 1975.

File:Generalissimus ussr.PNG

Proposed insignia of the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union (only held by Joseph Stalin)

Template:Use mdy datesGeneralissimo<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell), 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

The word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), an Italian term, is the absolute superlative of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('general') thus meaning "the highest-ranking of all generals". The superlative suffix {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} itself derives from Latin {{#invoke:Lang|lang}},<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia, French {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> meaning "utmost, to the highest grade". Similar cognates in other languages include {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in Spanish, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in Portuguese, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in French, and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in Latin. The Russian word Template:Langx comes from Latin.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

Historically, this rank was given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a state,<ref> Template:Oed - "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." </ref> usually only subordinate to the sovereign.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Alternatively, those of imperial blood or the commanders-in-chief of several allied armies could gain the title.<ref> Template:Cite encyclopedia </ref> 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.<ref name="Service2005">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>S. M. Shtemenko. The General Staff in the War Years. Moscow, 1985. Vietnamese version (vol. 2) . pp. 587–588.</ref> In fact the grade was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, which did not need the approval of Stalin.<ref>Сборник законов СССР и Указов Президиума Верховного Совета СССР (1938 — июль 1956) / Сост.: М. И. Юмашев, Б. А. Жалейко. — М., 1956. — С. 202.</ref> The rank of generalissimo for Stalin was used also by Western diplomacy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Marshall, B: Father Hilary's Holiday Doubleday & Company, New York 1965.</ref>

List of generalissimos

Person	Service	Country	Era	Notes
Template:Sort	The Deluge	Template:Sort	1655–1660	Named "Generalissimo of the Swedish armies in Poland and Prussia" by his brother King Charles X Gustav of Sweden<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Philippine Revolutionary Army	Template:Sort	1898–1901	Generalissimo of the Katipunan<ref name="emilio">Template:Cite archive</ref>
Template:Sort	Royal Swedish Army	Template:Sort	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,<ref>Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 39. John Murray, London.</ref> of a restored Bourbon France in 1814 (offered by Louis XVIII's brother the Comte D'Artois),<ref>Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 127. John Murray, London.</ref> and a desperate offer by Napoleon in early 1814 as an inducement for Sweden to switch its alliance to France.<ref>Scott, Franklin (1935). Bernadotte and the Fall of Napoleon. P. 153. Harvard University Press, Cambridge.</ref> Charles John declined the latter three.<ref name="svj">Template:In lang Ancienneté och Rang-Rulla öfver Krigsmagten år 1813</ref><ref>Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 4. John Murray, London.</ref><ref group=Note>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.</ref>
Template:Sort	Thirty Years' War	Template:Sort	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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	National Revolutionary Army	Template:Sort	1926–1975	Appointed commander in chief of the Nationalist Army for the Northern Expedition.<ref>The New York Times, December 4, 1926, pg.6.</ref> Appointed "high general special class" (特級上將 Tèjí shàng jiàng) in 1935
Template:Sortname	War of the Spanish Succession	Template:Sort	1702	Referred to as generalissimo by the Dutch States General<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	French Army	Template:Sort	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.<ref>John McGroarty :The Gray Man of Christ: Generalissimo Foch (1919) Los Angeles, Walter A Abbott</ref>
Template:Sortname	Brazilian Army	Template:Sort	1890	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Spanish Armed Forces	Template:Sort	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.<ref name="franciscof">"Franco of Iberia". Time, October 18, 1943. cover.</ref>
Template:Sort	Royal Swedish Army	Template:Sort	1716–1720	Fredrick was named "Generalissimo of the Swedish Armed forces to horse and foot" in 1716 by King Charles XII.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	French Army	Template:Sort	1939	His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime.
Template:Sort	British Army	Template:Sort	1702–1708	Declared "generalissimo of all our Forces within Our Kingdom of England and Ireland and Elsewhere" by his wife Queen Anne<ref name=Roper1998/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Cuban Liberation Army	Template:Sort	1895–1898	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Revolutionary Army of Mexico	Template:Sort	1810–1811	<ref name="dhdm">Comunica Miguel Hidalgo su proclamaci n como General simo de Am rica Template:Webarchive. Documentos Historicos de Mexico, October 24, 1810.</ref>
Template:Sort	Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan	Template:Sort	1926–1945	Dai-gensui, as sovereign ruler of the Empire of Japan<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Mexican Army	Template:Sort	1821–1823	<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Template:Sort	Third Anglo-Dutch War	Template:Sort	1673	"Generalissimo and supreme commander" over forces employed against the Dutch.<ref name=Roper1998>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	French Army	Template:Sort	1914	His dignity (rank) was Marshal of France, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Army was généralissime.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sort	Hawaiian Army	Template:Sort	1886–1891	King of Hawaii, was given titles of "supreme commander and generalissimo of the Hawaiian Army".<ref name="1886Act">Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sort	Austrian Army	Template:Sort	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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sort	Korean People's Army	Template:Sort	1992	Taewonsu<ref name=yomuiri>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="VOA2012">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Sort	Korean People's Army	Template:Sort	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="VOA2012"/>
Template:Sort	War of the Spanish Succession	Template:Sort	1708	Commanded the French Army<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sort	People's Liberation Army	Template:Flag	1955	Proposed the rank of Generalissimo of the People's Republic of China (declined usage)
Template:Sortname	Russian Imperial Army	Template:Sort	1727–1728	<ref name="Jena96">"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.</ref>
Template:Sortname	Venezuelan Army	Template:Sort	1812
Template:Sortname	Revolutionary Army of Mexico	Template:Sort	1813–1815	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	Ararat Forces	Template:Sort	1927–1930	<ref name="Chirguh">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 Template:In lang</ref>
Template:Sortname	Imperial Russian Army	Template:Sort	1799
Template:Sort	Imperial Russian Army	Template:Sort	1740–1741	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sortname	French Army	Template:Sort	1940	His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime.
Template:Sortname	Peruvian Army	Template:Sort	1821–1822	Generalísimo de las Armas del Perú
Template:Sortname	Soviet Armed Forces	Template:Sort	1945	Generalissimus of the Soviet Union<ref>Joseph Stalin was appointed generalissimus of the Soviet Union. See: Ivan Aleksandrovich Venediktov, Selskokhozyaystvennaya entsiklopediya, Vol. 4, Gos. izd-vo selkhoz, 1956, p. 584. Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref> (declined usage)
Template:Sort	National Pacification Army	Template:Flag	1921	Technically as dayuanshuai or "grand marshal of the army and navy"<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Taylor2009">Template:Cite book</ref>
Template:Sortname	Dominican Army	Template:Sort	1930	<ref>Stanley Walker, Generalissimo Rafael L. Trujillo (1955) Caribbean Library</ref>
Template:Sortname	Thirty Years' War	Template:Sort	1625	Via the "Principal Decree of the Imperial Deputation"<ref name="books.google.de">A short history of Germany. Ernest Flagg Henderson, 1908</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Tilly und Wallenstein – ein Vergleich zweier Heerführer. Harry Horstmann, 2010. Template:In lang</ref>
Template:Sortname	Continental Army United States Army	Template:Sort	1776	When chosen to be the commander-in-chief, was called by The Virginia Gazette the generalissimo of American forces.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Promoted posthumously to General of the Armies of the United States on January 19, 1976, with date of rank of July 4, 1976<ref name="PL-Washington">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</ref>
Template:Sort	Royal Portuguese Army	Template:Sort	1762–1763	Became Generalissimus of the Allied Armies in Portugal during the Spanish invasion
Yuan Shikai	Beiyang Army	Template:Flag	1913–1916	Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo (dayuanshuai) in 1913
Template:Sort	National Pacification Army	Template:Flag	1927–1928	Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo (dayuanshuai) in June 1927<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Our Lady of Aparecida	Brazilian Army	Template:Sort	1967	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Admiralissimo
• Capo dei capi
• Caudillo
• Commander-in-chief
• Grand marshal
• Dayuanshuai
• Dai-gensui
• Field marshal
• First marshal of the empire
• General of the Armies
• Generalissimus of the Soviet Union
• Highest military ranks
• Magister Militum
• Marshal General of France
• Shogun
• Six-star rank