Generalissimo

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Template:Military ranks
***Generalissimo*** (/ˌdʒɛnərəˈlɪsɪmoʊ/ Template:Respell) 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* (Template:IPA-it), 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 in China and later in Taiwan, 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.

## List of *generalissimo*s

 File:Chiang Kai-shek（蔣中正）.jpg
 File:Gen Aguinaldo.jpg
 File:Karel Filip Schwarzenberg.jpg
 File:Arolsen Klebeband 01 399 3.jpg
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## See also

* *Admiralissimo*
* *Caudillo*
* Commander-in-chief
* Da yuan shuai
* Dai-gensui
* Field marshal
* General of the Armies
* *Generalissimus* of the Soviet Union
* Highest military ranks
* *Shogun*
* Six-star rank

## Notes

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

1. ↑  (in en) *Encyclopaedia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, Enlarged and Improved*. Archibald Constable. 1823. pp. 484. https://archive.org/details/bub\_gb\_HconAAAAMAAJ. "generalissimo."
2. ↑ Template:Cite encyclopedia, French *Larousse Étymologique*.
3. ↑ Online Etymology Dictionary. Online Etymology Dictionary.
4. ↑ Define Generalissimo at Dictionary.com. Reference.com.
5. ↑ Generalissimo – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
6. ↑ Definition of generalissimo – Oxford Dictionaries (British & World English). Oxford Dictionary of English.
7. ↑ Thomas Hobbes (1660). "Chapter XVIII: Of the Rights of Sovereigns by institution". http://jim.com/hobbes\_on\_right\_of\_sovereigns.htm.
8. ↑ Service, Robert (2005). *Stalin: A Biography*. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 548. Template:ISBN.
9. ↑ S. M. Shtemenko. *The General Staff in the War Years*. Moskva 1985. Vietnamese version (vol. 2) . pp. 587–588.
10. ↑ Сборник законов СССР и Указов Президиума Верховного Совета СССР (1938 — июль 1956) / Сост.: М. И. Юмашев, Б. А. Жалейко. — М., 1956. — С. 202.
11. ↑ https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1945/nov/07/generalissimo-stalin
12. ↑ New York Times, Dec 04, 1926, pg.6.
13. ↑ "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.
14. ↑ https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/01.+Paintings/128240
15. ↑ John McGroarty :*The Gray Man of Christ: Generalissimo Foch* (1919) Los Angeles, Walter A Abbott
16. ↑ Comunica Miguel Hidalgo su proclamaci n como General simo de Am rica. Documentos Historicos de Mexico, 24 Oct 1810.
17. ↑ Cover, TIME magazine, 18 Oct 1943
18. ↑ Template:Cite archive
19. ↑ 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
20. ↑ Template:In lang *Ancienneté och Rang-Rulla öfver Krigsmagten år 1813*
21. ↑ 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:In lang
22. ↑ The Daily Yomuiri, 29 September 2010, Kim Jong Un spotlighted / 'Heir apparent' promoted to general, makes DPRK media debut
23. ↑ The Australian, 15 February 2012, Late Kim Jong-il awarded highest honour by North
24. ↑ Stanley Walker, *Generalissimo Rafael L. Trujillo* (1955) Caribbean Library
25. ↑ Linda Pomerantz-Zhang (1992). *Wu Tingfang (1842–1922): Reform and Modernization in Modern Chinese History*. Hong Kong University Press. p. 255. Template:Hide in printTemplate:Only in print. https://books.google.com/books?id=otwbBh\_GgrwC&q=tang+jiyao&pg=PA255. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
26. ↑ Taylor, Jay (15 April 2009). *The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the struggle for modern China*. Harvard University Press. p. 32. Template:Hide in printTemplate:Only in print. https://archive.org/details/generalissimochi00tayl. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
27. ↑ A short history of Germany. Ernest Flagg Henderson, 1908
28. ↑ Tilly und Wallenstein – ein Vergleich zweier Heerführer. Harry Horstmann, 2010. Template:In lang
29. ↑ Public Law 66-45 of September 3, 1919 to revive the office of General of the Armies
30. ↑ Rapin de Thoyras (M., Paul) (1745). Nicholas Tindal. ed. *The History of England*. **Volume IV, part 1 (French original: *Histoire d'Angleterre*, 1724–27)**. J. and P. Knapton. p. 562. https://books.google.com/books?id=04NaAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA562. Retrieved 16 September 2018. "The Earl of Athlone [Godard van Reede] was set on by the other Dutch Generals, to insist on his quality of Velt-Marshal, and to have the command with the Earl of Marlborough by turns. But, though he was now in high reputation by his late conduct, the States obliged him to yield this point to the Earl of Marlborough, whom they declared Generalissimo of all their forces, and sent orders to all their Generals and other Officers to obey him."
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Roper, Michael (1998). *The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964*. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office. p. 5.
32. ↑ Rapin de Thoyras (M., Paul) (1745). Nicholas Tindal. ed. *The History of England*. **Volume IV, part 1 (French original: *Histoire d'Angleterre*, 1724–27)**. J. and P. Knapton. p. 104. https://books.google.com/books?id=04NaAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA104. Retrieved 16 September 2018. "The Prince was Duke of Cumberland, Lord High-Admiral of Great-Britain and Ireland, Generalissimo of all her Majesty's forces both by sea and land, and Warden of the Cinque-ports."
33. ↑ Rapin de Thoyras (M., Paul) (1745). Nicholas Tindal. ed. *The History of England*. **Volume IV, part 1 (French original: *Histoire d'Angleterre*, 1724–27)**. J. and P. Knapton. p. 68. https://books.google.com/books?id=04NaAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA68. Retrieved 16 September 2018. "But an unexpected alteration was suddenly made, and the French King declared the Duke of *Burgundy* Generalissimo of his forces, appointing the Duke *de Vendosme [sic: Vendôme]*  to serve under him; and he was to be accompanied by the Duke of *Berry."*
34. ↑ Pock, Johann Joseph (1724). *Der politische, katholische Passagier, durchreisend alle hohe Höfe, Republiquen, Herrschafften und Länder der ganzen Welt*. Brechenmacher. p. 832. https://books.google.com/books?id=6ClMAAAAcAAJ&pg=GBS.PA832. Retrieved 16 September 2018. "wurde 1720. von dem König in Schweden [...] zum Generalissimo der sämmtlichen Schwedischen Trouppen ernennet"
35. ↑ Chadwick, Bruce (2005) (in en). *George Washington's War: The Forging of a Revolutionary Leader and the American Presidency*. Sourcebooks, Inc.. p. 40. Template:Hide in printTemplate:Only in print. https://books.google.com/books?id=JrN95xjXKC0C&pg=PA40. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
36. ↑ 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
37. ↑ Andermann, Jens; Rowe, William (2006) (in en). *Images of Power: Iconography, Culture and the State in Latin America*. Berghahn Books. p. 176. Template:Hide in printTemplate:Only in print. https://books.google.com/books?id=uvlQ6FipbMgC&pg=PA176.
38. ↑  *Chapter XXII: Act Act To Organize The Military Forces Of The Kingdom*. Honolulu: Black & Auld. 1886. pp. 37–41. Template:Hide in printTemplate:Only in print. https://books.google.com/books?id=2LMwAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA37.
39. ↑ Chang Tso-lin Made Dictator in Move to Beat Back South. *The New York Times* (18 June 1927).

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