A title used by Napoleon Bonaparte following his seizure of power in France. Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des Français...

Originally, three equal Consuls made up the government established by Bonaparte and Sieyès after the coup of 18 Brumaire (November 9, 1799), which established the Consulate in France (1799-1804). Napoleon, however, soon arose as the strongest of the three. Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, 1817, by Jacques-Louis David Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès ( May 3, 1748 - June 20, 1836) was a French abbé and statesman, one of the chief theorists of the revolutionary and Napoleonic era. ... 18 Brumaire, the coup of 18 Brumaire or sometimes simply Brumaire refers to the coup détat by which General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the government of the Directory to replace it by the Consulate. ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Consulate marks a period of French constitutional history between 1799 and 1804 - from the fall of the Directory to the start of the Napoleonic Empire. ... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

History of the Term

The term consul was used as part of Bonaparte's attempt to liken himself to a Roman ruler of ancient times. He later strengthened his ties with Rome by constructing triumphal arches (such as the Arc de Triomphe) and monuments in the style of ancient Rome. See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century) The Roman Republic (Latin: Res Publica Romanorum) was the representative government of Rome and its territories from 510 BC until the establishment of the Roman Empire, sometimes placed at 44 BC (the year of Caesars appointment as perpetual... Arc de Triomphe The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris that stands in the centre of the Place de lÉtoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. ...

The title of consul was in Rome used by the two most powerful magistrates in the government. The consuls ran the Republic (along with the Senate) and were the highest ranking military figures. Both consuls had equal authority and could veto each other. This was supposed to combat the onset of a tyranny. However in times of crisis the Senate could appoint one figure as a dictator. The Roman Senate (Latin, Senatus) was a deliberative body which was important in the government of both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. ...

The Napoleonic system was similar except that there were three consuls. Bonaparte, by far the most ambitious and charismatic of them, rose to become the most prominent and was later invested with the title of First Consul for Life, which is similar to being elevated to the position of dictator in ancient Rome, except that in Rome a dictator's term was limited to just six months.

First Consul

The title borne by Napoleon Bonaparte from 1799 to 1804, after establishing himself as the dictatorial and military ruler of France.

Second Consul

The title borne by Napoleon's second, Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, until 1804 when Napoleon declared himself Emperor of the French. Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès, Duke of Parma, ( 18 October 1753 - 8 March 1824), French lawyer and statesman, is best remembered as the author of the Code Napoléon, which still forms the basis of French law. ... The First French Empire, commonly known as the French Empire, the Napoleonic Empire or simply as The Empire, covers the period of the domination of France and much of continental Europe by Napoleon I of France. ...

Third Consul

The title borne by Charles-François Lebrun. Charles François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance, prince de lempire ( 19 March 1739 - 16 June 1824) was a French statesman. ...

See also

• Consul