By 1799, the Directory was deeply unpopular and ineffective. France was facing internal instability, economic struggles, and military pressure from the ongoing wars against European coalitions. With many feeling the government was incapable of addressing the country’s problems, key political figures such as Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès saw an opportunity to stage a coup.
Napoleon, who had risen to prominence as a successful military leader, was invited to join the conspiracy. Together with influential figures and his brother, Lucien Bonaparte, who was elected president of the Council of Five Hundred, they devised a plot to overthrow the Directory.
On the morning of 9 November 1799, the councils were told to move to the outskirts of Paris to escape a Jacobin plot. Here, troops loyal to Napoleon surrounded the councils and arrested two Jacobin Directors before the Directory was effectively dissolved. The next day, the coup faced resistance in the councils. The Ancients heckled Napoleon while the Council of Five Hundred called for him to be outlawed. However, Lucien’s intervention combined with Napoleon’s control of the military brought the situation under control.
After the coup, the Law of Brumaire established a new government under the direction of three consuls although Napoleon held the real power as First Consul. Just over two years later his power was extended as he became First Consul for Life and, in 1804, he declared himself Emperor of the French. The Coup of 18 Brumaire is therefore often seen as the end of the French Revolution.
On 9 November 1799 the Coup of 18 Brumaire saw Napoleon
Bonaparte come to power as First Consul of France.
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By 1799, the Directory was deeply unpopular and ineffective. France was facing internal
instability, economic struggles, and military pressure from the ongoing wars against European
coalitions. With many feeling the government was incapable of addressing the country’s problems,
key political figures such as Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès saw an opportunity to stage a coup.
Napoleon, who had risen to prominence as a successful military leader, was invited
to join the conspiracy. Together with influential figures and his brother, Lucien Bonaparte, who was
elected president of the Council of Five Hundred, they devised a plot to overthrow the Directory.
On the morning of 9 November 1799, the councils were told to move to the outskirts of Paris to
escape a Jacobin plot. Here, troops loyal to Napoleon surrounded the councils and arrested
two Jacobin Directors before the Directory was effectively dissolved. The next day,
the coup faced resistance in the councils. The Ancients heckled Napoleon while the Council of
Five Hundred called for him to be outlawed. However, Lucien’s intervention combined with
Napoleon’s control of the military brought the situation under control.
After the coup, the Law of Brumaire established a new government under
the direction of three consuls although Napoleon held the real power as First Consul.
Just over two years later his power was extended as he became First Consul for Life and, in 1804,
he declared himself Emperor of the French.
The Coup of 18 Brumaire is therefore often seen as the end of the French Revolution.
