History Main / TheGeneralissimo

[[TheCaligula His reign tends to be characterised by human rights abuse, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, nepotism, and corruption]]. His political viewpoints ([[StrawmanPolitical if he even has any]]) veer towards [[DirtyCommunists Communism]], [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Fascism]], or [[CommieNazis some combination of the worst aspects of both.]] Of course, none of this will stop him from [[GloriousLeader proclaiming himself "The People's Liberator"]] or otherwise [[FakeUltimateHero billing himself as a great hero.]] He is often the target of American assassination attempts and rebel groups, who may or may not be figments of his own paranoia. A common feature is to have a guerrilla movement training to overthrow them. Once this happens, the general goes into hiding to train his own revolutionaries to overthrow the government, which will be just as corrupt as the old one (as seen in ''{{Tintin}} and the Picaros'').

* SachaBaronCohen's character
[[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Admiral General Colonel Doctor Shabazz Aladeen, Democratic President-For-Life, Invincible and All-Triumphant Commander, Chief Ophthalmologist, Brilliant Genius of Humanity, Excellent Swimmer Including Butterfly, and Beloved Oppressor and Ruthless Protector of the Precious and Expendable People of Wadiya]] from ''[[{{Film/TheDictator}} The Dictator]]'' is a send-up of this concept, [[http://www.republicofwadiya.com/biography.php as made clear in his biography]].

* SachaBaronCohen's character Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen of the Republic of Wadiya from [[{{Film/TheDictator}} The Dictator]] is a send-up of this concept.

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly BenitoMussolinni, JosephStalin, FidelCastro, MaoZedong, IdiAmin, MuammarGaddafi and SaddamHussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely parodied in this manner, perhaps because the man himself is enough of an [[AcceptableTargets acceptable target]] (although one of his henchmen, Hermann Goering, did famously dress this way).

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly JosephStalin, FidelCastro, MaoZedong, IdiAmin, MuammarGaddafi and SaddamHussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely parodied in this manner, perhaps because the man himself is enough of an [[AcceptableTargets acceptable target]] (although one of his henchmen, Hermann Goering, did famously dress this way).

* Mentioned by TerryPratchett in LordsAndLadies as "Some people are born to kingship. Some achieve kingship, or at least Arch-Generalissimo-Father-of-His-Countryship.", possibly referring to Franco.

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly JosephStalin, FidelCastro, MaoZedong, IdiAmin, MuammarGaddafi and SaddamHussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely used in this manner, perhaps because the man himself is enough of an [[AcceptableTargets acceptable target]] (although one of his henchmen, Hermann Goering, did famously dress this way).

* ''[[BattlefieldBadCompany Battlefield: Bad Company 1]]'' has Zavomir Serdar, dictator of the fictional country Serdaristan. His role is mostly comic relief and TheLoad to B Company.

* WeirdAlYankovic is tasked with assassinating no less than ''two'' of these types in the ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-CG5w4YwOI Party in the C.I.A]] video. [[spoiler:But one of them ends up killing him.]]

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* Roger briefly impersonates one of these in ''AmericanDad''.

* General Viper in ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'', who rules El Nido with his Acacia Dragoons. [[spoiler:He's actually a rare heroic example; he's AFatherToHisMen and was only trying to kill Serge because he was being manipulated by Lynx]].

* Parodied in an episode of ''{{30 Rock}}''. Elisa's (SalmaHayek) grandmother hates Jack because he bears a [[ActingForTwo striking resemblance]] to the Generalissimo, the villain of her favorite soap opera. Jack (being the President of NBC) acquires Telemundo and attempts to have the Generalissimo killed off. Unfortunately, since the show is apparently broadcast live, the actor playing the Generalissimo goes OffTheRails when the female protagonist attempts to shoot him.

* BenoitBrisefer, a French comic, has one such island BananaRepublic with three generals (army, navy and air), who are constantly taking and retaking the palace from each other and declaring themselves Arch-Generalissimo or other inflated titles. Meanwhile, the dirt-poor inhabitants have grown used to all this nonsense and carry on life as usual (it helps that the soldiers are all remarkably inept, employing ATeamFiring to the fullest).

A SubTrope of EvilOverlord, as well as EvilForeigner and TheCaligula. The [[GeneralRipper militaristic leader]] of a [[FictionalCountry fictional third world state or nation]] (usually [[BananaRepublic African, South American]], [[{{Ruritania}} Eastern European]] or [[{{Qurac}} Middle Eastern]]). Almost invariably rules a {{Peoples Republic Of Tyranny}}.

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* TheExpendables' mission is to eliminate one such general. He is ''slightly'' more sympathetic than the usual examples
* In ''TheGreatDictator'' the head of Bacteria was portrayed like this.
* In TheThreeStooges' shorts making fun of Hitler ''et al.'' ("YouNaztySpy" and a sequel or two), Field Marshal Curly was like this.
* In the JamesBond film, ''LicenceToKill'', [[http://www.universalexports.net/Movies/license-cast.shtml Hector Lopez]]. He is portrayed as more PunchClockVillain than dictator, as his country is effectively a puppet of TheSyndicate.
* [[http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Shaddam_Corrino_IV Emperor Shaddam IV]] (Jose Ferrer) in the 1984 adaptation of ''{{Dune}}''.

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly JosephStalin, FidelCastro, MaoZedong, IdiAmin, MuammarGaddafi and SaddamHussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely used in this manner, perhaps because the man himself is enough of an [[AcceptableTargets acceptable target]].

* ''TransformersGeneration1'' had [[http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Abdul_Fakkadi Abdul Fakkadi]], Supreme Military Commander, President-for-Life, and King of Kings of the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya]], a not-so-subtle TakeThat at Muammar Gaddafi (with his [[TheMagnificent long list of titles]] a probable reference to Idi Amin).

* In TheThreeStooges' shorts making fun of Hitler ''et al.'' ("YouNaztySpy" and a sequel or two) Field Marshall Curley was like this.

[[TheCaligula His reign tends to be characterised by human rights abuse, political repression, ethnic persecution, extrajudicial killings, nepotism, and corruption]]. His political viewpoints ([[StrawmanPolitical if he even has any]]) veer towards [[DirtyCommunists Communism]], [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Fascism]], or [[CommieNazis some combination of the worst aspects of both.]] Of course, none of this will stop him from [[VillainWithGoodPublicity proclaiming himself "The People's Liberator"]] or otherwise [[FakeUltimateHero billing himself as a great hero.]] He is often the target of American assassination attempts and rebel groups, who may or may not be figments of his own paranoia. A common feature is to have a guerrilla movement training to overthrow them. Once this happens, the general goes into hiding to train his own revolutionaries to overthrow the government, which will be just as corrupt as the old one (as seen in ''{{Tintin}} and the Picaros'').

Usually dressed in military garb, with a ChestOfMedals and topped with a CommissarCap. Common traits include [[BeardOfEvil facial hair]] [[BadassMustache of some sort]], [[CigarChomper cigar smoking,]] [[DemocracyIsBad a hatred of democracy,]] [[TheMagnificent a long list of self-bestowed titles]], [[GloriousLeader a need to be worshipped]], and [[{{Egopolis}} naming cities and monuments after himself.]]

Usually dressed in military garb, with a ChestOfMedals and topped with a CommissarCap. Common traits include [[BeardOfEvil facial hair]] [[BadassMustache of some sort]], [[CigarChomper cigar smoking,]] [[DemocracyIsBad a hatred of democracy,]] [[TheMagnificent a long list of self-bestowed titles]], and [[{{Egopolis}} naming cities and monuments after himself.]]

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly JosephStalin, FidelCastro, MaoZedong, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely used in this manner.

Tends to be [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed based on one or more real-life dictators,]] most commonly JosephStalin, Fidel Castro, MaoZedong, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein. This is often used to make an {{Anvilicious}} point about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical said real-life dictator's policies]]. [[GodwinsLaw Surprisingly]], AdolfHitler is rarely used in this manner.