The military rank of Generalissimo is an honorary military title or the highest military position in many countries around the world. This rank has always been considered higher than field marshal and other five-star ranks. The name itself comes from the Italian word generalissimo and means “the highest rank of all generals.” In different countries and at different times, such a high and honorable title was awarded to commanders-in-chief for the duration of hostilities, and was given as an honorary title for life to military leaders, persons of noble blood, or prominent political figures.
The very first generalissimo was in 1569 the last French king from the Valois dynasty, Henry III (1551-1589). This high title, along with the title of Duke of Auvergne, was awarded to his elder brother Charles IX when Henry was heir to the throne. And after that, with the light hand of the French, this practice became widespread in countries such as the Holy Roman Empire, Sweden, Spain, Mexico, Japan, and China.
The famous Russian Generalissimo A. Suvorov
In Russia, Voivode Shein (1652-1700) became the first generalissimo in 1696. The high title was awarded to him by Peter I for the brilliantly conducted military operation near Azov. In 1727, Alexander Menshikov (1673-1729) received such an honorary title. He received it from Peter II, but Peter the Great apparently did not consider Menshikov worthy of such a title. But, without any doubt, the real generalissimo was Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800). He became one in 1799 by order of Paul I.
It should be said that in Russia under Peter I there was also the rank of generalissimo of the amusing troops. The Tsar awarded it to Fyodor Romodanovsky (1640-1717) and Ivan Buturlin (1661-1738) in 1694. Officially, the highest military rank was introduced in the Russian Empire in 1716. Thus, neither Romodanovsky, nor Buturlin, nor Shein can legally be considered holders of the highest title. They received it only by the will of the emperor, but without any legislative act.
Joseph Stalin (1879-1953) received the high military rank of Generalissimo with the prefix “Soviet Union” on June 27, 1945. But the leader himself was absolutely indifferent to the highest award. This is indicated by the fact that they did not even come up with a shoulder strap for the title approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Council. Stalin wore marshal's shoulder straps when he put on his military uniform.
Generalissimo of the Soviet Union I. Stalin
There are many other names of famous people awarded the highest and honorable military rank. Here we can name Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975). This is an outstanding political figure in China. From 1946 until his death, he served as President of the Republic of China, located on the island of Taiwan and a number of other smaller islands. It should not be confused with the People's Republic of China, which occupies most of Southeast Asia in area. Chiang Kai-shek received the honorary title in 1935.
George Washington (1732-1799) should also be named. He was promoted to the highest rank posthumously on January 19, 1976. During his lifetime he held the rank of army general, and 177 years after his death he became generalissimo. This practice is widespread in some countries.
We cannot ignore the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Il Sung (1912-1994). This leader of the Korean people received the highest title in 1992. And his son Kim Jong Il (1941-2011) received a similar title posthumously in 2012.
Kim Jong Il also received the title of Generalissimo
The outstanding French Marshal Maurice Gamelin (1872-1958) was also awarded the highest military rank in 1939. He commanded the French armed forces in World War II. True, Gamelin lost the Battle of France (May 10 - June 22, 1940), but this did not affect the honorary title.
French General Maxime Weygand (1867-1965) also received an honorary military title in 1939. This man participated in both the First and Second World Wars. Already in old age, he was appointed supreme commander of the French army after the resignation of Maurice Gamelin. He was dismissed in 1941. In 1942 he was imprisoned in Dachau.
There are many more names of worthy people who bore the military rank of generalissimo. All of them served their countries faithfully and devotedly and had either military or political careers. The glorious deeds of these citizens are inscribed in history to serve as an example for posterity to follow..
Despite the history of our country, rich in military events, the title of generalissimo did not become widespread in Russia; almost every production in it was extremely politicized, which in fact gives special historical significance and increased interest to this extraordinary highest honorary military rank.
"Generalissimo" translated from Latin - general, the most important in the army. In the dictionary V.I. Dahl interprets this word as “commander-in-chief, chief of the entire military force of the state.”
The title of Generalissimo was first granted by the French King Charles IX in 1569. to his eighteen-year-old brother Henri (later King Henry III). There was no uniformity in the assignment of the highest military rank: in some cases they became generalissimos for life, and in others - only for the period of a particular military campaign. The Venetian commander Morosini, for example, held the title of generalissimo four times - in 1678, 1681, 1684 and 1694, and Archduke Charles of Austria - twice. The word “generalissimo” was introduced into the Russian language by foreign commanders during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich when they addressed the governor of the Great Regiment.
In Russian history, he became the first Russian generalissimo in 1696. comrade-in-arms of the young Tsar Peter, boyar Alexei Semenovich Shein, who commanded all the troops in the second Azov campaign.
The second Russian generalissimo was the closest associate of Peter I, His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov (1673-1729). Many victories in the Russian-Swedish Northern War (1700-1721) are associated with his name. On the field of the Poltava victory in 1709. triumphant Peter promoted his favorite and comrade-in-arms to field marshal general. However, the highest rank of A.D. Menshikov received only after the death of Peter the Great under the following circumstances. The latter's grandson, Emperor Peter II, May 12, 1727. declared: “Today I want to destroy the field marshal!” Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment. Then the emperor handed Menshikov a signed patent for the rank of generalissimo. But soon the Most Serene Prince, involved in court intrigues, was exiled to Siberia to the city of Berezov.
Along with the largest commanders, one of the members of the imperial dynasty also had the title of generalissimo in Russia. Anna Leopoldovna (mother of the non-reigning infant emperor John VI) during her short reign on November 11, 1740. awarded this rank to her 26-year-old husband, Prince Anton-Ulrich of Brunswick, who had virtually no military merit.
October 28, 1799 The great Russian commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1730-1800), who victoriously completed his legendary Swiss campaign in 1799, became the generalissimo of the Russian land and naval forces. Emperor Paul I, erecting A.V. Suvorov to the rank of generalissimo, wrote: “Now, rewarding you according to my gratitude and placing you at the highest level of honor and heroism, I am confident that I will elevate you to the most famous Commander of this and other centuries.” Suvorov took part in six major wars, was wounded six times in battle, made 20 campaigns, fought 63 battles and did not lose a single one, and his army outnumbered the enemy only three times.
After the October Revolution, the rank of generalissimo was abolished along with other military ranks.
In the USSR, the military rank of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced after the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated June 26, 1945. For outstanding services to the Soviet Motherland in the leadership of all armed forces of the state during the Great Patriotic War, this title was awarded on June 27, 1945. was assigned to Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin.
In 1993 Together with other military ranks of the Soviet Army, the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was formally abolished.
Why in the entire history of our country’s existence have only five people been awarded the highest military rank?
In the history of Russia there was no military rank higher than generalissimo. As, indeed, in the world: in the five centuries that have passed since the first recorded assignment of this title - in 1569 in France it was awarded to the future king Henry III - there have been no more than a hundred generalissimos.
Like any higher rank, the title of generalissimo has always been not only military, but also political. The same future king of France received it at the age of 18 - think about it, at 18! - when he commanded his brother's royal troops in the war against the Huguenots. And although in those centuries men matured much earlier, it is not difficult to understand that there were also significant political reasons behind the first ever conferment of the highest title.
In this sense, one can only be surprised at how few generalissimos there were in Russian history. Exactly five! Two of them received the highest ranks during political battles: it is no coincidence that both were later deprived of this honor. The other two became generalissimos on the battlefield, with good reason. And another figure is so ambiguous and tragic that it is difficult to even immediately say what was more important in awarding the highest military rank to this person - military talent or politics.
The first two are the royal favorite Alexander Menshikov and the husband of regent Anna Leopoldovna, Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick.
The other two are Voivode Alexei Shein and Commander Alexander Suvorov.
The fifth and last is the Generalissimo of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin.
Heroes of political battles
The title of “Generalissimo” as the highest military rank in Russia was established by the Military Regulations of Peter I, adopted in 1716. And from a purely formal point of view, the first Russian generalissimo who received this title according to the current charter should be considered Peter’s associate, the owner of almost all the highest (at that time) Russian ranks, Alexander Menshikov. And this is exactly the case when full compliance with the letter of the law is completely contrary to its spirit. After all, the tsar’s favorite received the highest military rank not for loud victories on the battlefield, not for the reform or rearmament, in the end, of the Russian army. Although, it must be admitted, he had combat and command experience, it would be quite difficult to even call him a general. Menshikov became Generalissimo at the moment when the reigning grandson of Peter I - Emperor Peter II - was preparing for an engagement to his daughter.
When ranks are received not as a sign of recognition of military merit, but as a sign of royal favor, such rises, as a rule, are short-lived. This is exactly what happened with Menshikov: he was awarded the title of Generalissimo on May 12, 1727, and already in September he was arrested and deprived of all awards and titles. The former royal favorite never returned from the exile that followed this punishment, nor did his daughter, who never became queen.
The story of another “political generalissimo” - Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick - was equally short-lived. The husband of regent Anna Leopoldovna - the daughter of Empress Anna Ioannovna and the mother of the young Emperor of Russia John IV - received the highest military rank from his wife on November 11, 1740, three days after the palace coup that brought his son to the throne. And he also lost him as a result of a palace coup: Elizaveta Petrovna, the daughter of the first Russian emperor, who came to power on December 6, 1741, deprived him of his ranks and titles on the same day and sent him and his entire family into exile. True, it should be noted that in exile in northern Kholmogory, the former generalissimo behaved exactly as befits a real Russian officer. He did not leave his wife and his children, who were born near Arkhangelsk, even after the Empress personally invited him to go abroad, leaving his family in Russia.
Generals by God's Grace
If the elevation of Alexander Menshikov to the rank of generalissimo was formally correct, but essentially unfounded, then with boyar Alexei Shein the situation is strictly the opposite. He received the highest military rank two decades before its official introduction according to the charter - in 1696. But he got it by showing his best side precisely in battles and preparation for them.
44-year-old Alexey Shein rose to the pinnacle of military glory as a result of the second Azov campaign of Peter the Great’s army, carried out in 1696. During this campaign, Voivode Shein served as commander of the ground forces. Taking into account the mistakes of the first Azov campaign, achieving consistency in the actions of the troops subordinate to him and soberly assessing the strength of those defending the fortress, Shein achieved what Fyodor Apraksin could not achieve a year earlier - he took Azov. And here’s what’s remarkable: Alexey Shein received the title of Generalissimo of the Russian Army, which was to officially appear only 20 years later, even before the end of the campaign! The royal decree conferring the highest rank on him was promulgated on June 28, and the complete surrender of Azov took place almost a month later - on July 19. However, already at the end of June 1696 it was completely clear that the first Russian generalissimo had completely deprived the Turks of any hopes of victory in this battle.
We can say that it was by looking at Shein, at his leadership of the army, that Peter I worked out his interpretation of the title of generalissimo. After all, according to Peter the Great’s Military Regulations, “this rank is only due to crowned heads and great ruling princes, and especially to the one whose army is. In its non-existence, it gives command over the entire army to its general, the Felt Marshal. Or he can act autocratically on occasion in whatever way he invents for the good and can give an answer to his sovereign.” In full accordance with this idea, which had not yet been put on paper, Peter I, soon after the second Azov campaign, appointed his generalissimo to head the Inozemsky, Pushkarsky and Reitarsky orders, which corresponded to the status of the commander-in-chief of all Russian troops. And he entrusted him with the most dangerous direction at that time - the southern, Turkish, where Shein’s successes led to the conclusion in 1700 of the Peace of Constantinople, which was so necessary for Russia.
The following fact speaks volumes about how worthy an officer and military leader the first Russian generalissimo was. After the Streltsy revolt of 1698, two years before his death, Alexey Shein fell into short disgrace with Peter I. Everyone considered and cited the reason for the tsar’s cooling towards his military leader as being too lenient, in Peter’s opinion, the sentence passed on the rebels by the commanders of the tsarist troops. After all, according to Shein’s sentences, only 130 people out of more than 2,100 riot participants were executed - and two months later, the king gave the order for the execution of almost 2,000 archers!
It is difficult to say how well the last Russian generalissimo, the legendary Count Alexander Suvorov, who received the highest military rank shortly before his death, on August 28, 1799, as a result of the Swiss campaign, was familiar with the biography and military exploits of his predecessor. Most likely, very well: the brilliant commander, according to contemporaries, was always distinguished by wide erudition and interest in the military talents of the past. But if anyone can rightfully stand on the same podium with the most famous Russian commander, Generalissimo Suvorov, then this is the first Russian generalissimo - Alexey Shein.
Soviet Generalissimo - the first and only
After the Generalissimos of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, no one else in Russia was awarded the highest military rank. Even the winner of the Patriotic War of 1812, His Serene Highness Prince Mikhail Kutuzov, was awarded only the rank of Field Marshal, that is, one step lower. True, he became the first full holder of the Order of St. George in Russia - but that’s a completely different story.
Even the greatest war of its time - the First World War - did not lead to the emergence of new generalissimos in Russia. Perhaps because the art of war ceased to be personal, because the role of each individual commander as the creator of a common victory became objectively less important... But one way or another, Count Suvorov remained the last generalissimo of Russia. After the October Revolution of 1917, the previous military ranks were abolished, and along with them the rank of generalissimo.
It returned only after our country’s victory in the most terrible of wars - the Great Patriotic War. The decree introducing the title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union in the Soviet Army was adopted on June 26, 1945. And the next day a new decree was issued - on the first and last assignment of this title: Marshal of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin was awarded it.
A very remarkable legend is associated with the awarding of the title of Generalissimo to Stalin. As you know, the “father of nations” was very indifferent to the titles and signs of his power - the fact that he actually possessed it was quite enough for him. He was not even the first to receive the marshal rank and only in the middle of the war, on March 6, 1943, becoming the eleventh marshal of the USSR. And it was precisely on the fact that the leader of the country that broke Hitler’s back should not remain just one of his marshals, as the legend says, that one of Stalin’s favorite military leaders, Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky, played. It is to him that rumor ascribes the merit that Joseph Stalin agreed to the conferment of the highest military rank.
There is a logic to the fact that Stalin was the first and last Soviet generalissimo. After all, as we have already said, the 20th century seriously diminished the role of an individual commander in the successes or failures of the army of a particular country. Victory in the full sense of the word was forged by the whole country. It is difficult and pointless to deny the merit of Generalissimo Stalin as a man who managed to unite Soviet Russia in the most difficult times and commanded not just its army, but the entire belligerent power. So, awarding him the highest military rank, the rank of the first Soviet generalissimo, was completely justified - no matter how he was treated then, and especially now.
By the way, an interesting fact: Joseph Stalin is the only generalissimo in Russian history who not only had the highest military rank of the country, but was also its leader. Generalissimo Alexei Shein was subordinate to Tsar Peter I, who had no rank higher than captain of the bombardment company of the Preobrazhensky regiment and rear admiral. Generalissimo Alexander Menshikov received his title from the hands of Emperor Peter II, who held the rank of colonel. Anna Leopoldovna, who made Prince Anton Ulbrich of Brunswick generalissimo, had no military ranks at all. And Emperor Paul I, who made Alexander Suvorov generalissimo, since 1762 held the ranks of colonel of the Life Cuirassier Regiment and admiral general.
It was awarded only to outstanding people who significantly influenced the course of history, won the most important battles for their people, and were brilliant tacticians. Naturally, there cannot be many such exceptional personalities, even in the entire long history of mankind. Read below about those who have risen to the rank of generalissimo, as well as the current state of this rank.
Interpretation of the term "generalissimo"
The title of "Generalissimo" is the pinnacle of a military career. It was awarded for outstanding services to his native country, for victory in key battles. In this case, the military man had to command one or more allied armies and take tactically successful actions. The title acquired particular significance in the 20th century, when humanity was shaken by two world wars one after another.
From Latin, “generalissimo” is translated as “chief in the army.” In the entire history of military operations there has not been a higher rank. It was first appropriated back in the 16th century, or rather in 1569.
All the generalissimos of the world are outstanding leaders, brilliant tacticians and masterly strategists. However, among those who have been awarded this title, there are controversial figures.
Number of Generalissimos in the world
How many generalissimos were there in the world? Today their number is 77. Among them are nine French military, six Austrian commanders, two German. History also includes five Russian generalissimos.
However, this is only official data. How many generalissimos were there in the world who were truly worthy of this title? There are significantly fewer of them than 77. This is due to the fact that the title was awarded not only for outstanding military services. It was awarded to many representatives of royal families, as well as their entourage as an incentive. In this case, “Generalissimo” was nothing more than an honorary title that did not reflect the real state of affairs and any attitude towards the army.
First Generalissimo
It is not so important how many generalissimos there were in the world, the main thing is which of them became the first person to earn this title. In the second half of the 16th century, namely in 1569, the French king Charles IX awarded this title to his brother, who later became the next head of state - Henry III. This is exactly the case when the title was awarded by the highest will of the monarch, and not for military merit, which simply did not exist due to the age of the king’s cousin.
Many generalissimos of the world, as mentioned above, also received this title as a sign of the royal person’s favor. In some states the title was awarded for life. In others - only for the duration of hostilities. In peacetime, the former commanders-in-chief did not have any privileges, for example, the highest army rank.
Generalissimo of Russia
The list of generalissimos in our country is not long at all. The first person to receive this highest title was a governor who distinguished himself in the second Azov campaign. For services to the Fatherland, Russian Emperor Peter I officially awarded him this title.
There were also cases where a title was first awarded and then taken away if the person fell out of favor. This is exactly what happened with Alexander Menshikov, who was listed as generalissimo for only a few months. A similar situation occurred with the father of John VI, the Russian Emperor. The son granted his father the highest military rank as an honorary title. After the overthrow of John VI, his parent was demoted.
It is not so important how many generalissimos there were in the world. The important thing is that the representative of our country is, perhaps, the greatest of them. We are talking about Alexander Suvorov, famous for his victories over the Turkish armies. But his main achievement is considered to be the Italian campaign, during which the commander showed miracles of strategy and tactics.
Joseph Stalin
About two months later, the highest military rank was introduced into the country. It is not difficult to guess who was the first and only one to receive it during the existence of the USSR. It was the leader of the state, Joseph Stalin. The conferment of the honorary title was approved by a group of military leaders who commanded the Allied armies, as well as members of the Politburo.
Thus, Generalissimo Stalin was added to the list of holders of the highest military ranks. It is worth noting that the head of the USSR became the first commander-in-chief in the modern history of our country since the time of Suvorov to be awarded this title. The leader of the Soviet Union was also awarded the second Order of Victory.
Current status of the rank
It is difficult to overestimate the role of every historical figure who was awarded the highest military rank. Today the title “Generalissimo” does not exist in Russia. It was abolished along with many other titles of the USSR. Thus, Generalissimo Stalin became the last person in our country to be awarded the highest military rank.
This title was often associated with the characteristics of the person to whom it was assigned. This is one of the reasons why this military rank has been abolished in many countries. In modern history, without exception, all generalissimos were also heads of state. Moreover, everyone was prone to dictatorship. This is why many historians have doubts about the military merits of some generalissimos.
« Military thought" No. 9. 2004 (pp. 72-75)
CRITICISM AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Generalissimos of the world (or once again about the ranking of commanders)
Reserve Colonel O.N. KALINOVSKY,
Candidate of Technical Sciences
Retired Colonel V.A. KULIKOV,
Doctor of Historical Sciences
ON THE EVE of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the victory of our people in the Great Patriotic War, a wide variety of publications dedicated to this historical event appear in the press. One of them is the article “Tournament of Warlords. Rating of commanders of the Second World War." An unusual rating of the commanders of the main countries who took part in the war is offered to the attention of military and civilian readers, built “in accordance with their merits during the war within the framework of the countries and armies in which they acted.” These merits are assessed by such indicators as the scale of military operations led by commanders, the strength of the enemy opposing them, the degree of complexity of the military tasks they solved and their mastery of the art of war.
It is impossible not to notice that assessments of the merits of commanders can undergo significant changes over time, depending on the personal attitude towards them on the part of historians, politicians, and especially military leaders. In our opinion, in order to increase confidence in such ratings, the awards and military ranks they received during the war should also be taken into account as indicators of the merits of commanders. Let us remember, for example, that A.V. Suvorov was awarded the highest military rank of “Generalissimo” for the successful leadership of large-scale actions of Russian troops during the Italian campaign (1799), in which the armies of the French generals Joubert, Moreau, MacDonald were defeated in the battles of Novi and Italy was cleared of enemies in four months, and also for the successful outcome of the Swiss campaign in the fall of the same year, during which the 26,000-strong Russian army was able to break through the St. Gotthard Pass and connect with the allies.
The published rating of the commanders of the Second World War, of course, reflects the subjective, exploratory nature of the research of its compilers, and it will undoubtedly be further refined. At the same time, of course, one should not make such annoying mistakes as, for example, distorting the name and patronymic of artillery marshal Vasily Ivanovich Kazakov (1898-1968), called “Nikolai Nikolaevich” (p. 4). Apparently, it would also be advisable to more accurately follow the target setting of the rating, i.e. indicate which military ranks and for what merits during the Second World War were received by the commanders listed. For example, A.A. Grechko, K.S. Moskalenko was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1955, N.I. Krylov in 1962, I.S. Isakov the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union in 1955, etc.
In the further development of a rating of commanders of this level, scientific research by other authors, including, for example, the book “Generalissimos of the World,” could provide significant assistance. This work is unique in its content and level of generalization of historical sources. In its preparation, the authors used numerous publications of the 18th-19th centuries, including foreign ones, which for the most part are practically inaccessible to the average reader. The information material contained in this book will certainly help both military and civilian readers understand the frequently changing military ranks, and the authors of publications will avoid many inaccuracies such as those mentioned above. In addition, when re-issuing various scientific reference and encyclopedic publications, significant clarifications may be made to such articles as “Army General”, “Generalissimo”, “Military Ranks”, “Marshal of the Soviet Union”.
This biographical dictionary, in particular, contains evidence that the title of “Generalissimo” was awarded to eighty, and not seventy, military and government officials, as stated in the latest edition of the Russian “Military Encyclopedia” (1994. Vol. 2. P. 378 ). In our opinion, the published list of names of people who were awarded this highest military rank requires clarification.
The reader learns from this book that the title “generalissimo” (from the Latin qeneralissimus - the most important) had different contents at different times and in different countries. Firstly, it was an honorary title assigned to persons of the reigning dynasties and the most prominent statesmen (which took place in France in the 16th and 17th centuries), regardless of whether they commanded any troops or had nothing to do with the army. Secondly, the generalissimo was the name given to the commander-in-chief of the active army (during war) or all the troops of the state. This was the case, for example, in the Austrian Empire, Sweden and England. And finally, in some countries the highest military rank was assigned by the supreme power of the state for life (for example, in Russia in the 18th century).
Thus, in the 16th-20th centuries, “generalissimo” was both a title and the position of commander-in-chief, and the highest military rank. However, in the Middle Ages, the concepts of “military title”, “official rank”, “military rank” practically did not differ, as in a later period (20th century). Therefore, this biographical dictionary includes all persons who had the rank of generalissimo, regardless of whether they were generalissimo by title, position or rank.
Having found out the background of the title “Generalissimo”, the authors for the first time give the most complete answer to the question about the number of people awarded it throughout its existence. In particular, they referred to an article published in 1987 by A.S. Zubarev and V.A. Egorshin, which listed the names of all the generalissimos. It is valuable that A.S. Zubarev and V.A. Egorshin included in their list only those persons for whom there was supporting information in at least two sources, mainly encyclopedic ones. Their list included 75 people.
In the journal “Questions of History” (1988, No. 5), N. Tomenko published an article in which he argued, citing data from two sources, that the first Russian generalissimo was Prince M.A. Cherkassky. P.P. Ganichev, in his book “Military Ranks,” calls Prince F.Yu. the first Russian generalissimo. Romodanovsky, who became one in 1694, i.e. a year before M.A. Cherkassky. Until the 1980s, domestic encyclopedic publications indicated that the first Russian generalissimo was A.S. Shein (1696). However, D. Bantysh-Kamensky did not include in his famous dictionary “Biographies of Russian Generalissimos and Field Marshals” either A.S. Sheina, nor F.Yu. Romodanovsky, nor M.A. Cherkassky. And this is quite understandable: the rank of generalissimo was introduced somewhat later by official state acts as a lifelong highest military rank. At the end of the 17th century, this rank existed in Russia in the form of the highest official military rank, assigned for the duration of hostilities, i.e. for a limited time. F.Yu. Romodanovsky, A.S. Shein, M.A. Cherkassky were generalissimos by position, being the commander-in-chief of the troops during military operations. HELL. Menshikov was such by rank, which is why D. Bantysh-Kamensky considers him the first Russian generalissimo.
Thus, the list of A.S. Zubarev and V.A. The authors supplement Egorshin with three more persons - Kim Il Sung, F.Yu. Romodanovsky and M.A. Cherkassky. In addition, they consider it possible to include several more names of generalissimos in this list. One of them is the Chinese Liu Lichuan, the leader of the Shanghai Uprising of the 19th century. According to historian B.C. Kuzes, there are a number of documents indicating that Liu Lichuan held the rank of generalissimo. In another little-known source - the book by G.Z. Aliyev “Turkey during the reign of the Young Turks” (1972) - it is noted that Enver Pasha received the title of Generalissimo during the First World War. From “Essays on the Contemporary History of Turkey” by A.F. Miller and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (2nd edition) it follows that Enver Pasha was vice generalissimo. In a letter to one of the authors of the short bibliographic dictionary A.S. Zubarev and V.A. Egorshin write that “the available contradictory data do not yet provide grounds for including Enver Pasha in the list of generalissimos.” However, the fact that in three sources the name of Enver Pasha is somehow associated with the rank of generalissimo allows the authors of the dictionary (albeit with reservations) to include him in the list of persons who held this rank.
In various publications, D.S. is also called generalissimo. von Wurmser (XVIII century), Joseph Poniatowski (XIX century), A. Yamagata (XIX century) and other persons - more than 130 names in total. However, most of them are so named as a result of incorrect translations from foreign languages or errors of the authors. For this reason, it seems correct, according to the authors, to include in the list only those persons whose information is supported by at least two sources. Based on such strict criteria, it can be argued that the list of generalissimos of all times and peoples includes 75 persons mentioned by A.S. Zubarev and V.A. Egorshin, as well as Kim Il Sung, M.A. Cherkassky, F.Yu. Romodansky, Liu Lichuan and Enver Pasha, i.e. between 1569 and 1992, the title of generalissimo was awarded to 80 military and government officials.
The biographical dictionary indicates that out of 80 generalissimos, 18 belonged to the ruling dynasties, 22 had the titles of princes, counts, dukes (the so-called non-dynasty aristocracy). A significant part came from less titled nobility, although in general the majority of holders of this rank belonged to the noble class and received this title for outstanding military merit in the leadership of military operations on at least a regional scale.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the work done by the authors of the dictionary deserves respect and recognition. On the eve of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory, a reminder of how and to whom military ranks were and are awarded for services in military operations to protect the Fatherland, especially roads. The accessibility of the material allows us to recommend this dictionary as an auxiliary teaching aid on the history of military art for military institutes, universities, academies and other military educational institutions.
Temirbulatov-Khatuev R.T., Urusov K. S-B. Generalissimos of the world. Brief biographical dictionary. Cherkessk, 1996
Military Encyclopedia: In 8 volumes. T. 2, 3. 4. M.: Military Publishing House, 1994-2001; Naval encyclopedic dictionary. 2nd ed., rev. u additional M.: Voenizdat, 2003; and etc.
Even earlier, the book by P.P. was published. Ganichev “Military Ranks” (M., 1989), which can be considered one of the most authoritative sources for subsequent researchers
For obvious reasons, Kim Il Sung, who received this title in 1992, was not included in the list.
Bantysh-Kamensky D. Biography of Russian generalissimos and field marshals. St. Petersburg, 1940.
To comment you must register on the site.