Generalissimo

Generalissimo or Generalissimus is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to a Field Marshal or Grand Admiral and comparable to commander-in-chief (though with power not delegated from outside the military power structure, as commander-in-chief often is; e.g. an elected official).

Usage

The word "generalissimo" is an Italian term, from generale, plus the suffix -issimo, itself from Latin -issimus^[1], meaning "utmost, to the highest grade".

Historically this rank was given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a nation, usually only subordinate to the Sovereign. Other usage of the title is for a commander of united armies of several allied powers. Many generalissimos have been dictators. "Generalissimo" is sometimes used in modern English language to refer to a military officer who has obtained political power by a military coup, or in some cases to one who has suspended pre-existing constitutional mechanisms in order to retain power by means of a military hierarchy.^{[citation needed]}

Notable historical generalissimos

Brazil

Deodoro da Fonseca (1827–1892)

China

In Imperial China a rank of Da Jiang Jun (大將軍) existed which resembles Generalissimo.

Han Dynasty Imperial China

Republic of China

Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925)
Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975)

From 1834 to 1910, the Kings of Portugal were considered "Generalissimo", in their constitutional role of Supreme Commanders of the Portuguese Army.

Russia and the Soviet Union

There were five holders of the Russian rank or title "generalissimus" prior to the 20th century. Romodanovsky and Menshikov both commanded military forces and ruled absolutely; Aleksei Shein and Aleksandr Suvorov, were principally field commanders rather than political figures. Anthony Ulrich II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1714–1776), was appointed generalissimus by his wife Anna Leopoldovna but neither commanded nor ruled. From 1918 to 1945, there were no generalissimos in the country, until Joseph Stalin applied this rank to himself following victory in the Great Patriotic War, in order to differentiate himself from other USSR marshals (such as Zhukov). The rank was abolished with Stalin's death in 1953.

Aleksei Shein (1662–1700)
Fyodor Romodanovsky (1640–1717)
Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov (1673–1729)
Anthony Ulrich II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1714–1776)
Aleksandr Suvorov (1729–1800)
Joseph Stalin (1879–1953)

Spain

File:General Francisco Franco.jpg

Francisco Franco

Don Juan de Austria (1547–1578)
Manuel Godoy, Prince of the Peace
Baldomero Espartero (1793-1879)
Francisco Franco (1892-1975)

Sweden

Lennart Torstenson (1603–1651)
Charles X Gustav (1622-1660, for the forces in Germany)
Crown Prince Charles John of Sweden and Norway (Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte), later Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway (1763–1844)

Turkey

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938)
Mustafa Fevzi Çakmak (1876–1950)

Venezuela

Francisco de Miranda (1750–1816)

Venice

Pietro Loredan (?–1439)

Other Italians

Cesare Borgia (1475-1507)

References

^ Webster's Third New International Dictionary., French Larousse Étymologique.
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[1] Webster's Third New International Dictionary., French Larousse Étymologique.

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Usage

Notable historical generalissimos

Brazil

China

Han Dynasty Imperial China

Republic of China

Cuba

North Korea

Dominican Republic

France

The Holy Roman Empire / Austrian Empire

Mexico

Poland

Portugal