Napoleon - Coup to Power (18 brumaire)

On 10 November 1799, General Napoleon Bonaparte took part of a political coup overthrowing the Directory. The coup was actually initiated by two members of the existing government: Emmanuel Joseph Siéyès and Roger Ducos who were not happy about their lack of executive power.

The two men sought the support of a general to secure their plot and avoid ending up by the guillotine! The fascinating thing about this event is that the two men who were scheming to get more power did not and the general who was just there to protect them ended up getting the executive role!

While there is no written evidence about it, historians believe that some form of financial transaction sealed a deal. General Bonaparte became the First Consul of the Republic. Abroad, Napoleon is mostly known as a military strategist and a conqueror... What France mostly remembers is his achievements as a Head of State.