Generalissimo

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A generalissimo is a commissioned officer of the highest rank; the word is often translated as "Supreme Commander" or "Commander in Chief". It is a Italian superlative substansive (generalissimo), meaning that it can function either as a noun or as an adjective. When used as a noun, the correct sense is "General to the Nth degree" (or commander in chief of the entire armed forces of a specific country); as an adjective, the closest English form is "most general", but the concept is best expressed by the grammatically incorrect expression "most generalest". The term "Generalissimo" in English has come to refer to a kind of ruler who has ascended to that position by a military coup.

The dictator Francisco Franco, Chief of State of the Spanish State, also held the title General�simo de los Ej�rcitos Espa�oles, or "Generalissimo of the Spanish Armies", a title which expressed his supreme command of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of the Spanish State.

Chiang Kai-Shek also used the term as did Stalin; the latter, however, appointed himself did use it as a title to designate his position as commander in chief, but rather bore it as an actual title of rank (Generalissimo of the Soviet Union), comparable to that of admiral or general. The Japanese equivalent to this was a Seii Taishōgun.