Generalissimo

Generalissimo

Generalissimo or Generalissimus is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to a Field Marshal or Grand Admiral.

Usage

The word "generalissimo" comes from the (Latin) Italian "generale", general, plus the suffix "-issimo", meaning "utmost, to the highest grade".The rank was historically given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces, only subordinated to the Sovereign. "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 one who has suspended pre-existing constitutional mechanisms in order to retain power by means of a military hierarchyFact|date=July 2008.

Famous historical generalissimos

Republic of China

*Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) was known as the Generalissimo.

Cuba

*Maximo Gomez y Baez (1836–1905)

Dominican Republic

*Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina (1891–1961)
*Juan Pedro Smee de Horchata (1971–Present)

France

*Henry III of France (1551–1589)
*Henry I, Duke of Guise (1550–1588)
*Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé (1621–1686)
*Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (1611–1675)
*Claude Louis Hector de Villars (1653–1734)
*Maurice de Saxe (1696–1750)
*Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult (1769–1851)
*Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929), Supreme Commander of the Allies of World War I
*Maurice Gamelin (1872–1958)

The Holy Roman Empire / Austrian Empire

*Albrecht von Wallenstein (1583–1634)

Mexico

*Ignacio José de Allende (1769–1811) [http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/a/allende_y_unzaga.htm]
*Antonio López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (1794–1876)
*José María Morelos y Pavón, Insurgent Leader. [http://historia.mforos.com/710942/6008134-generalisimo-jose-maria-morelos-y-pavon/] [http://minopal.com/2008/01/10/el-generalisimo-jose-maria-morelos-pavon]

Poland

*Jerzy Ossoliński (1643–1648)
*Józef Antoni Poniatowski (1763 - 1813)

Russia and the Soviet Union

There were four holders of the Russian rank or title "generalissimus" prior to the 20th century. 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.

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

Kingdom of Spain

*Don Juan de Austria (1547–1578)
*Francisco Franco (1939–1975)For a time Baldomero Espartero and the Prince of the Peace, Manuel Godoy, were called generalissimo.

weden

*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)

Venezuela

*Francisco de Miranda (1750–1816)

United States of America

*George Washington, General of the Armies of the United States (1732–1799)
*John Pershing, General of the Armies of the United States, commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.

On October 11, 1976, by Act of Congress, Washington was posthumously appointed to the grade of "General of the Armies of the United States". The appointment was backdated to July 4, 1976 [Promotion order of George Washington, Military Personnel Records Center ().] and was a designation that, by law, made George Washington the most senior United States military officer.

Venice

*Pietro Loredan (?–1439)

Other Italians

*Cesare Borgia (1475-1507)
*Victor Emmanuel III of Italy (1869 - 1947)

ee also

* Magister militum
* Military rule
* Spahbod
* Shogun
* Supreme Allied Commander
* The Generals
* Reichsmarschall
* First Marshal of the Empire
* Dux Bellorum
* Grand Marshal
* General of the Armies

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • generalissimo — 1620s, from It. generalissimo, superlative of generale, from a sense development similar to Fr. general (see GENERAL (Cf. general) (n.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • generalíssimo — adj. Muito geral.   ‣ Etimologia: latim generalissimus, a, um generalíssimo s. m. 1. Chefe supremo de todos os exércitos de um país. 2. Título de soberano de uma nação com relação ao exército.   ‣ Etimologia: general + íssimo …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • Generalissimo — Gen er*al*is si*mo, n. [It., superl. of generale general. See {General}, a.] The chief commander of an army; especially, the commander in chief of an army consisting of two or more grand divisions under separate commanders; a title used in most… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • generalissimo — [jen΄ər ə lis′i mō΄] n. pl. generalissimos [It, superl. of generale, GENERAL] in certain countries, the commander in chief of all the armed forces …   English World dictionary

  • Generalissimo — Generalissimus (von ital. Generalissimo, etwa General der Generäle) ist eine veraltete Bezeichnung für eine Oberbefehlshabersposition. Der Generalissimus war befugt, sowohl militärisch als auch politisch zu handeln. Mit dem Ausdruck wird ein über …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead — Generalissimo [ The correct spelling in Spanish is in fact Generalísimo . However, during Franco s final years, the title Generalissimo, with the English spelling, was also routinely applied to Chiang Kai shek.] Francisco Franco is still dead is… …   Wikipedia

  • generalissimo — noun (plural mos) Etymology: Italian, from generale general Date: 1621 the chief commander of an army …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • generalissimo — /jen euhr euh lis euh moh /, n., pl. generalissimos. (in certain countries) the supreme commander of the armed forces. [1615 25; < It, superl. of generale GENERAL] * * * …   Universalium

  • generalissimo — noun A supreme commander of the armed forces of a country, especially one who is also a political leader …   Wiktionary

  • generalissimo — ge·ne·ra·lis·sì·mo agg., s.m. 1. agg., superl. → generale 2. s.m. CO comandante supremo delle forze armate …   Dizionario italiano

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”