Exhibition labels & didactics - National Gallery of Victoria

NAPOLEON’S RISE TO POWER
The promulgation of the constitution establishing the new
Directory resulted in armed uprising in Paris as disaffected parties,
including remaining Jacobins and royalists, gathered with the
aim of overthrowing the new government. The regime’s defence
was entrusted to the future Director Vicomte de Barras, a former
commissioner for the French Army. Barras approached the gifted
young Napoleon Bonaparte, whose acquaintance he had made
during the Siege of Toulon in 1793. Bonaparte led a small military
force to quell the insurgents on 5 October 1795, securing power
for the new regime. Promoted to the rank of General, in command
of the Army of the Interior, Bonaparte rapidly accumulated
influence.
It was at this time that Barras introduced Bonaparte to his mistress,
Marie-Josèphe-Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie, the widow of the
Vicomte de Beauharnais. Napoleon Bonaparte soon replaced
Barras in her affections. Marie-Josèphe-Rose married Napoleon
on 9 March 1796, changing her name to Josephine at his request.
Two days later, Napoleon departed to assume command of the
French armies in Italy. His spectacular Italian military successes
provided the Directory with unprecedented political stability,
while also increasing his own political standing. When in 1798
and 1799 military reverses began to undermine the government,
General Bonaparte acted. On 9 November 1799, he took part
in a coup d’état, overthrowing the Directory and establishing
the Consulate. The new constitution of 15 December 1799,
a document ratified by public referendum on 7 February 1800,
appointed a leadership of three consuls, with Napoleon himself
as First Consul.
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