The word "generalissimo" is translated from Latin as "the most important." The military rank of Generalissimo appeared in France in the middle of the XVI century. In Russia, he was introduced by the young Peter I, it was first used for entertainment and amusing wars. The first generalissimo of Russia are Fedor Romodanovsky and Ivan Baturin. F.Yu. Romodanovsky later served as Prince Caesar during the journey of Peter I in Europe.
A.S. was elevated to the generalissimo of Russia. Shein, A.D. Menshikov, Prince Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig and A.V. Suvorov.
It must be said that this title did not initially carry any serious character. A.S. Shane received this rank from Peter I during the war with the Swedes, which began for him unsuccessfully. He was captured, covering up the retreat of the Russian troops. A.S. Shane was exchanged for Swedish officers. He commanded the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments - the pride of the emperor. They distinguished themselves in the battle of Azov. When A.S. Shane was appointed commander in chief, the Russian troops finally managed to take Azov, for which he received the rank of generalissimo in 1696. He died in 1700.
The subsequent generalissimo of Russia received this rank not for military merits, but for reasons of a formal protocol. HELL. Menshikov received this rank in 1727 because his daughter was engaged to Peter II (so that he would be ranked emperor). But
Peter II passed away, and A.D. Menshikov fell out of favor, lost all ranks and was exiled to Tobolsk province, where he died in 1729.
A similar story happened with Prince Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig. He received the title of Generalissimo only because he was the father of the young emperor John VI, in 1740. A year later, after Elizabeth I ascended the throne, the prince was stripped of his ranks and exiled to Kholmogory. He lived there for a long time, died in 1774.
And only A.V. Suvorov received the title of Generalissimo fully deservedly. He was born in 1730. He began serving as an ordinary
Semenovsky regiment from the age of 13. During his military career he won 60 battles, not losing a single one. The most famous battles were the following: the
capture of Ishmael in 1790 and the Italian and Swiss campaigns in 1799, for which A.V. Suvorov and received the title of Generalissimo. Palace and political intrigues undermined his health, in 1800 he died. Generalissimo Suvorov was endowed with the brilliant talent of the commander and rightfully occupies a worthy place in Russian history.
After A.V. Suvorov generalissimo of Russia ran out. This title was not awarded to anyone. After almost 150 years, the generalissimo of the USSR appeared. This title was awarded June 26, 1945 I.V. To Stalin. According to historians, Stalin refused him, he was indifferent to ranks and awards. General KK persuaded Stalin to accept the rank of generalissimo Rokossovsky.
Analyzing historical facts, a strange pattern emerges. After receiving this title, all the generalissimo of Russia almost immediately or within a short time fell into disgrace and soon died. Only I.V. Stalin remained in this rank for 8 years. It itself existed until 1993, but it was no longer assigned to anyone.