November 9, 1799Reputable sourceWell documented
The Coup of 18 Brumaire
On the timeline · around November 9, 1799 ·
What happened
On 9–10 November 1799 (18–19 Brumaire in the revolutionary calendar), the young general Napoleon Bonaparte, together with the plotting director Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, overthrew the Directory in a nearly bloodless coup. In its place they established the Consulate, with Napoleon soon its dominant First Consul.
Why it matters
Most historians take the coup as the end of the French Revolution. Within five years Napoleon would crown himself emperor, carrying the Revolution's reforms — and its wars — across Europe.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Coup of 18 Brumaire · Reputable source