French Revolutionary Era Events and Figures

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Coup of Brumaire

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A coup d'état that brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France, and in the view of most historians, ended the French Revolution.

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Coup of Fructidor

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A seizure of power by members of the French Directory, which resulted in the annulment of the elections of 1797 and the arrest of royalist deputies.

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Law of 22 Floréal (1798)

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A law passed by the French Directory that annulled the elections in many departments, reducing the influence of the Jacobins.

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Council of 500

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The lower house of the legislature of France during the period known as the Directory (1795–1799).

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Council of Ancients

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The upper house of the legislature of France during the Directory period, which had the power to accept or veto legislation proposed by the Council of 500.

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Directors

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The five-member committee which governed France from 1795, when it replaced the Committee of Public Safety, until it was overthrown by Napoleon in 1799.

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Constitution of Year III

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The French constitution adopted in 1795, establishing the Directory government.

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Abbe Sieyes

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Clergyman and political writer; served in many roles and helped plan the Coup of Brumaire.

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Paul Barras

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One of the most important members of the Directory, was bribed to resign during Napoleon's coup.

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Lazare Carnot

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A French politician, engineer, and mathematician who was known as the 'Organizer of Victory' in the French Revolutionary Wars.