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Generalissimo ( ), also generalissimus, is a military rank of the highest degree, superior to field marshal and other in the states where they are used.
Historically, this rank was given to a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a state,
- "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''."
usually only subordinate to the sovereign. Alternatively, those of imperial blood or the commanders-in-chief of several allied armies could gain the title.
The rank generalissimus of the Soviet Union would have been a generalissimo but some sources assert that Joseph Stalin refused to accept the rank. (2025). 9780674016972, Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674016972S. M. Shtemenko. The General Staff in the War Years. Moscow, 1985. Vietnamese version (vol. 2) . pp. 587–588. In fact the grade was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, which did not need the approval of Stalin.Сборник законов СССР и Указов Президиума Верховного Совета СССР (1938 — июль 1956) / Сост.: М. И. Юмашев, Б. А. Жалейко. — М., 1956. — С. 202. 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 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 America dictatorial regimes, for example Father Hilary's Holiday by Bruce Marshall.Marshall, B: Father Hilary's Holiday Doubleday & Company, New York 1965.
| Named "Generalissimo of the Swedish armies in Poland and Prussia" by his brother King Charles X Gustav of Sweden |
| Generalissimo of the Katipunan |
| 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,Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 39. John Murray, London. of a restored Bourbon France in 1814 (offered by Louis XVIII's brother the Comte D'Artois),Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 127. John Murray, London. and a desperate offer by Napoleon in early 1814 as an inducement for Sweden to switch its alliance to France.Scott, Franklin (1935). Bernadotte and the Fall of Napoleon. P. 153. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. Charles John declined the latter three. Ancienneté och Rang-Rulla öfver Krigsmagten år 1813Barton, Sir Dunbar (1925). Bernadotte Prince and King. P. 4. John Murray, London.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. |
| 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. |
| Appointed commander in chief of the Nationalist Army for the Northern Expedition. The New York Times, December 4, 1926, pg.6. Appointed "general special class" (特級上將 Tèjí shàng jiàng) in 1935 |
| Referred to as generalissimo by the Dutch States General |
| 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.John McGroarty : The Gray Man of Christ: Generalissimo Foch (1919) Los Angeles, Walter A Abbott |
| 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. "Franco of Iberia". Time, October 18, 1943. cover. |
| Fredrick was named "Generalissimo of the Swedish Armed forces to horse and foot" in 1716 by King Charles XII. |
| His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime. |
| Declared " generalissimo of all our Forces within Our Kingdom of England and Ireland and Elsewhere" by his wife Queen Anne |
| Comunica Miguel Hidalgo su proclamaci n como General simo de Am rica . Documentos Historicos de Mexico, October 24, 1810. |
| Dai-gensui, as sovereign ruler of the Empire of Japan |
| " Generalissimo and supreme commander" over forces employed against the Dutch. |
| His dignity (rank) was Marshal of France, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Army was généralissime. |
| King of Hawaii, was given titles of "supreme commander and generalissimo of the Hawaiian Army". |
| 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. |
| Taewonsu |
| Taewonsu (posthumously awarded) |
| Commanded the French Army |
| Proposed the rank of Dayuanshuai (declined usage) |
| "Menschikow und Stalin waren die einzigen Heerführer der russischen Geschichte, die sich 'Generalissimus' nennen ließen." Menshikov Jena, Detlev (1996): Die russischen Zaren in Lebensbildern, Graz, p. 520. |
| 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 |
| His rank was général d'armée, but his title as commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces was généralissime. |
| Generalísimo de las Armas del Perú |
| Generalissimus of the Soviet UnionJoseph Stalin was appointed generalissimus of the Soviet Union. See: Ivan Aleksandrovich Venediktov, Selskokhozyaystvennaya entsiklopediya, Vol. 4, Gos. izd-vo selkhoz, 1956, p. 584. (declined usage) |
| Technically as dayuanshuai or "grand marshal of the army and navy" |
| Stanley Walker, Generalissimo Rafael L. Trujillo (1955) Caribbean Library |
| Via the "Principal Decree of the Imperial Deputation". Ernest Flagg Henderson, 1908 Tilly und Wallenstein – ein Vergleich zweier Heerführer. Harry Horstmann, 2010. |
| When chosen to be the commander-in-chief, was called by The Virginia Gazette the generalissimo of 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 to provide for the appointment of George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States |
| Became Generalissimus of the Allied Armies in Portugal during the Spanish invasion |
| Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo ( dayuanshuai) in 1913 |
| Leader of the Beiyang government, declared generalissimo ( dayuanshuai) in June 1927 |
| Patroness of Brazil. |
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