In the hierarchy of military ranks, the rank of generalissimo stands apart. Historically, it was assigned only to those military leaders who happened to command several armies at once during the war. In Russian military history, the number of such military leaders was very small - to count them, the fingers of one hand would be enough.
In Russia, the rank of generalissimo appeared at the beginning quite formally at the end of the 17th century, when the young Tsar Peter conceived an entertainment "amusing army". Two of his confidants, Fyodor Romodanovsky and Ivan Buturlin, who were his comrades in the war games, were awarded the title of "generalissimo" by Peter the Great, and even then only for the duration of the amusement. Therefore, it would be absurd to regard these dignitaries as genuine military leaders of the highest rank.
Over time, Peter abandoned the war games and took up politics in earnest. The first real generalissimo of Russia was voivode Alexei Shein. The king awarded Shein with this title in 1696, when he was still at a relatively young age - he was 34 years old. Military glory came to Shein during the famous Azov military campaigns of Peter the Great.
Another generalissimo, Alexander Menshikov, appeared in Russia after the death of Peter the Great, in 1727. Formally, all the requirements for an applicant for the highest military rank were met; Menshikov had quite successful experience in commanding armies. However, to a large extent, the decision of Peter II to award Menshikov with the highest military title was dictated by intrigues at court. Very soon, the new generalissimo fell into disgrace, after which he was stripped of absolutely all titles and ranks, which he had been generously endowed with earlier.
In 1740, the Prince of Braunschweig became the Russian generalissimo. But he was not destined to be proud of his highest military rank for long, which he received not at all for military merits. After Elizabeth ascended the throne, the prince was stripped of his ranks and exiled to the north. The third generalissimo held out in his rank for exactly one year.
Perhaps the most eminent of the Russian military leaders of the highest rank was Alexander Suvorov. Suvorov's merits in military affairs can hardly be exaggerated. The commander received the title of Generalissimo in October 1799 for the successful implementation of the Swiss and Italian campaigns.
After a long oblivion, the rank of generalissimo returned to the Russian army after the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany. In June 1945, Joseph Stalin became Generalissimo of the Soviet Union. The leader himself was rather cool about various ranks and titles, and he repeatedly rejected the proposal of his comrades-in-arms to confer him the highest military rank. An interesting fact is that, having become a generalissimo, Stalin continued to wear his former jacket, without exchanging the insignia of the Marshal of the Soviet Union for the brilliant shoulder straps of the Generalissimo. Stalin became the last of the Russian generalissimo. This rank in the Russian army was abolished in 1993. History will show how things will be with the highest army rank.
