Follow Paul François Jean Nicolas Barras through 143 dated historical records for France.
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
Talleyrand became Minister of Foreign Relations with support from Barras. His appointment gave the Directory an experienced diplomatic intermediary at a time of expanding French influence abroad.
Role range: 1795-1799
Appointed Head of the Directory
Role range: 1793-1799 – 1797-1799
Heads a new five man group called the Directory which rules Republican France
Appointed Head of the Directory
The costs of war and administration put persistent pressure on the French treasury. Barras and his colleagues relied on contested taxation and military successes to maintain their government.
Role range: 1795-1799
The Directory approved Bonaparte's expedition to Egypt as part of its struggle with Britain. Barras shared executive responsibility for the decision, although the overseas campaign increasingly enhanced the general's independent profile.
Role range: 1795-1799
The Law of 22 Floréal invalidated numerous election results favorable to neo-Jacobins. Barras benefited from the executive's ability to blunt legislative opposition through exceptional electoral measures.
Role range: 1795-1799
The Directory intervened in neighboring republics and relied on French soldiers to sustain political settlements abroad. Barras was among the Directors responsible for this ambitious and costly foreign policy.
Role range: 1795-1799
The parliamentary crisis of 30 Prairial weakened the Directory and reduced Barras's ability to control the political situation.
Role range: 1795-1799 – 1795-1799
Paul Francois Barras figured in events surrounding barras political isolation grows at Paris. His eventual exclusion was important because he had long been a leading figure of the regime. This development weakened constitutional checks built into the Directory and prepared the replacement of its executive institutions.
Role range: 1793-1799
Barras became increasingly vulnerable as allies around Sieyes looked for a replacement for the Directory. His eventual exclusion was important because he had long been a leading figure of the regime.
Role range: 1793-1799
Barras hosted Bonaparte for dinner as political manoeuvring intensified shortly before the coup of Brumaire.
Role range: 1795-1799 – 1795-1799
Paul Francois Barras figured in events surrounding barras resigns under pressure at Paris. The departure of the third Director left the executive unable to function as designed. This development weakened constitutional checks built into the Directory and prepared the replacement of its executive institutions.
Role range: 1793-1799
Barras surrendered his place in the Directory as Bonaparte's allies consolidated their operation. The departure of the third Director left the executive unable to function as designed.
Role range: 1793-1799
Barras resigned as the coup of Brumaire destroyed the Directory and ended his central role in revolutionary government.
Role range: 1795-1799 – 1795-1799
Although Barras remained a Director after Prairial, the crisis dismantled much of the factional balance that had protected his position.
Role range: 1795-1799
Barras survived the parliamentary attack but faced a changed executive in which former alliances and sources of influence were weakened.
Role range: 1795-1799
During the coup of 18 Brumaire, Barras resigned from the Directory as Bonaparte and civilian allies seized the initiative. His departure helped deprive the executive of the membership needed to govern.
Role range: 1795-1799
The councils forced changes in the Directory following military defeats and legislative dissatisfaction. Barras survived the Prairial confrontation but lost reliable partners and faced an increasingly fractured executive.
Role range: 1795-1799
Bonaparte's return from Egypt altered political calculations among the Directors. Barras attempted to preserve his position while several rivals considered replacing the existing constitutional order.
Role range: 1795-1799
Sieyès entered the Directory with plans for constitutional reconstruction that did not depend on Barras's leadership. Their divergent ambitions complicated efforts to preserve the five-member government.
Role range: 1795-1799
Barras held another term as the Directory's rotating president in early 1799. The position offered visibility during a period marked by renewed coalition warfare and mounting criticism of the executive.
Role range: 1795-1799
Overthrown by Napoleon's coup
Role range: 1793-1799 – 1797-1799
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.