Generalissimo

See also: Captain General
For other uses, see Generalissimo (disambiguation).

Generalissimo ( JEN-(ə-)rə-LIS-ih-moh) 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 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, 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.

Historically this rank was given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a state, usually only subordinate to the sovereign. The military leader Albrecht von Wallenstein in 1632 was the first imperial generalissimo (general of the generals). Other usage of the rank has been for the commander of the united armies of several allied powers and if a senior military officer becomes the head of state or head of government of a nation like Chiang Kai-Shek of the Republic of China, and 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. In fact the grade was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, which did not need the approval of Stalin. The rank of generalissimo for Stalin was used also by Western diplomacy.

In the 20th century, the term came to be associated with military officers who took dictatorial power in their countries, especially due to the Spanish 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.

List of generalissimos

Main category: Generalissimos
Person Service Country Era Notes
Prince Adolph John, Count Palatine of Kleeburg The Deluge Sweden 1655–1660 Named "Generalissimo of the Swedish forces in Prussia and Poland" by his brother King Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Emilio Aguinaldo Philippine Revolutionary Army Philippines 1898–1901 Generalissimo of the Katipunan
Crown Prince Charles John Royal Swedish Army 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, of a restored Bourbon France in 1814 (offered by Louis XVIII's brother the Comte D'Artois), and a desperate offer by Napoleon in early 1814 as an inducement for Sweden to switch its alliance to France. Charles John declined the latter three.
Prince Charles Gustav Thirty Years' War 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 accoplish much as commander of the Swedish forces in Germany as the war ended in October of the same year.
Chiang Kai-shek National Revolutionary Army Republic of China 1926–1975 Appointed commander in chief of the Nationalist Army for the Northern Expedition. In 1935 was appointed "general special class" (特級上將 Tèjí shàng jiàng).
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough War of the Spanish Succession Dutch Republic 1702 Referred to as generalissimo by the Dutch States General.
Ferdinand Foch French Army France 1918 Généralissime was the title used to describe 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.
Deodoro da Fonseca Brazilian Army Brazil 1890
Francisco Franco Spanish Armed Forces 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, capitán general de la Armada.
Prince Consort Frederick of Hesse Royal Swedish Army Sweden 1716–1720 Fredrick was named "Generalissimo of the Swedish Armed forces to foot and horse" in 1716 by King Charles XII.
Maurice Gamelin French Army 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 Great Britain 1702–1708 Declared "generalissimo of all our Forces within Our Kingdom of England and Ireland and Elsewhere" by his wife Queen Anne
Máximo Gómez Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Cuba 1895–1898
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Revolutionary Army of Mexico Mexico 1810–1811
Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa) Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan Japan 1926–1945 Dai-gensui, as sovereign ruler of the Empire of Japan
Agustín de Iturbide Mexican Army Mexico 1821–1823
James, Duke of York Third Anglo-Dutch War England 1673 "Generalissimo and supreme commander' over forces employed against the Dutch.
Joseph Joffre French Army France 1914 His dignity (rank) was Marshal of France, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Army was généralissime.
Kalākaua Hawaiian Army Hawaii 1886–1891 King of Hawaii, was given titles of "supreme commander and generalissimo of the Hawaiian Army".
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg Austrian Army 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.
Kim Il Sung Korean People's Army North Korea 1992 Taewonsu
Kim Jong Il Korean People's Army North Korea 2012 Taewonsu (posthumously awarded)
Louis, Grand Dauphin War of the Spanish Succession France 1708 Commanded French Army
Mao Zedong People's Liberation Army People's Republic of China 1955 Proposed the rank of Generalissimo of the People's Republic of China (declined usage)
Alexander Danilovich Menshikov Russian Imperial Army Russia 1727–1728
Francisco de Miranda Venezuelan Army Venezuela 1812
José María Morelos Revolutionary Army of Mexico Mexico 1813–1815
Ihsan Nuri Ararat Forces Ararat 1927–1930
John J. Pershing United States Army United States 1919 Promoted to General of the Armies of the United States on September 3, 1919.
Alexander Suvorov Russian Imperial Army Russia 1799
Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick Russian Imperial Army Russia 1740–1741
Maxime Weygand French Army 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 Peru 1821–1822 Generalísimo de las Armas del Perú
Joseph Stalin Soviet Armed Forces Soviet Union 1945 Generalissimus of the Soviet Union (declined usage)
Sun Yat-sen National Pacification Army Republic of China 1921 Technically as da yuan shuai or "grand marshal of the army and navy"
Rafael Trujillo Dominican Army Dominican Republic 1930
Albrecht von Wallenstein Thirty Years' War Holy Roman Empire 1625 Via the "Principal Decree of the Imperial Deputation"
George Washington Continental Army
United States Army 		United States 1776 When chosen to be the commander-in-chief, was called by The Virginia Gazette the generalissimo of the American forces. Promoted posthumously to General of the Armies of the United States on January 19, 1976, with date of rank of July 4, 1976.
William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe Royal Portuguese Army Portugal 1762–1763 William became Generalissimus of the Allied Armies in Portugal during the Spanish Invasion.
Zhang Zuolin National Pacification Army Republic of China 1927–1928 Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo (da yuan shuai) in June 1927

Gallery

See also