Generalissimo

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Albrecht von Wallenstein
Alexander Wassiljewitsch Suvorov
Chiang Kai-shek
Francisco Franco , 1969

Generalissimus (from Italian Generalissimo , about " General of the Generals") is an outdated term for a position in chief. The generalissimo was empowered to act both militarily and politically on his own responsibility. The term is used to designate a commander-in-chief of all armed forces of a country who is above the marshals and generals .

Albrecht von Wallenstein was the imperial instruction from June 27, 1625 "for a general about this our men after the Holy Roman Empire seconded succor ." He was the only Habsburg general to receive this rank and title as absolute commander-in-chief of the imperial armada, as general of the generals , who was placed above the commanders (including Lieutenant General Tilly) of the league armies. In parlance, this leads to the title of generalissimo.

In the Habsburg Monarchy , the generalissimo had the authority of the lieutenant general (highest rank of general in the 17th century); unlike the latter, however, the generalissimo was not subject to the Vienna Court War Council and was allowed to act autonomously. If a generalissimo was appointed, the position of lieutenant general remained vacant during his term of office.

In more modern times, the term generalissimo was used again as the military title of various dictators - often accompanied by a personality cult .

Examples

*) It is unclear whether Matthias Gallas and Ruprecht von der Pfalz actually carried this title.

The title General of the Armies of the United States is comparable. He received:

In addition, some commanders-in-chief were designated as Generalissimo without having received that rank:

See also

literature

  • Sources and research on patriotic history, literature and art , ed. by Wilhelm Braumüller, Vienna 1849.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Hellmut Diwald: Wallenstein , Goldmann Sachbuch, Munich / Esslingen 1981, p. 286 f.