How significant was the weakness of the Directory in Napoleon’s success in the Coup de Brumaire 1799?
How significant was the weakness of the Directory in Napoleon’s success in the Coup de Brumaire 1799?
In 1799 Napoleon, Ducos and Sieyes arranged to gain power over France. Initially it was meant to be a legitimate takeover where to council of Ancients would vote them into power, however this did not go according to plan. The Ancients rejected them saying Napoleon was trying to use military force to overthrow them. In the end Lucien (Napoleons brother) calls upon the army against the Council. In the end they agree to abolish the Directory and a 3 man executive was created (Napoleon, Sieyes and Ducos) with two legislative councils: the Senate and the Tribunate. What were the reasons behind this Coup that would make it successful? Was it the weakness of the Directory? Or Napoleons ambition? Or perhaps it was the roles of others such as Sieyes who played a vital role in securing the success of the Coup. Or was it Napoleons successes overseas which gave him the power to attempt it? His uses of historical events? Or did it simply come down to Napoleons skill?
The weakness of the Directory is certainly a key issue which lead to a successful coup. The Directory which consisted of Gohier, Barras, Sieyes, Ducos and Moulin, had no say in legislation. During the reign of the Directory there was a lot of public unrest. This was due to a poor economy. There was high inflation and a lot of debt. Discounted peasants and Proletariat meant that another popular uprising was in the air. There was also unrest in the army. They were under fed and under paid and after many military disaster they were feeling disillusioned with the new government. Austria had retaken land in Italy, Napoleons disaster in Egypt, and Britain and Russia have moved into Holland. All of these small discontents added up to a general feeling of reproach towards the Directory. This enabled Napoleon and his other conspiratress to contemplate a successful takeover which would be widely supported by the
In 1799 Napoleon, Ducos and Sieyes arranged to gain power over France. Initially it was meant to be a legitimate takeover where to council of Ancients would vote them into power, however this did not go according to plan. The Ancients rejected them saying Napoleon was trying to use military force to overthrow them. In the end Lucien (Napoleons brother) calls upon the army against the Council. In the end they agree to abolish the Directory and a 3 man executive was created (Napoleon, Sieyes and Ducos) with two legislative councils: the Senate and the Tribunate. What were the reasons behind this Coup that would make it successful? Was it the weakness of the Directory? Or Napoleons ambition? Or perhaps it was the roles of others such as Sieyes who played a vital role in securing the success of the Coup. Or was it Napoleons successes overseas which gave him the power to attempt it? His uses of historical events? Or did it simply come down to Napoleons skill?
The weakness of the Directory is certainly a key issue which lead to a successful coup. The Directory which consisted of Gohier, Barras, Sieyes, Ducos and Moulin, had no say in legislation. During the reign of the Directory there was a lot of public unrest. This was due to a poor economy. There was high inflation and a lot of debt. Discounted peasants and Proletariat meant that another popular uprising was in the air. There was also unrest in the army. They were under fed and under paid and after many military disaster they were feeling disillusioned with the new government. Austria had retaken land in Italy, Napoleons disaster in Egypt, and Britain and Russia have moved into Holland. All of these small discontents added up to a general feeling of reproach towards the Directory. This enabled Napoleon and his other conspiratress to contemplate a successful takeover which would be widely supported by the