Napoleon: Rise of a military colossus

The end of 2024 sees the 225th anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s ascent to power as leader of France. The key event was the coup of 9 November 1799, or 18 Brumaire – the ‘foggy month’ in the recently adopted French revolutionary calendar. With deft use of the threat of force, the country’s leading general effectively ended a decade of continuous political upheaval. At the time, Napoleon was the predominant figure in the Consulate, a trio of new rulers who replaced the five-man Directory, which had governed the revolutionary First Republic since 1795. He soon formalised the situation by assuming overall authority as First Consul. Despite his civilian title, Napoleon’s power u