Lucien abandons presiding chair Council of Five Hundred
The confrontation over Bonaparte's appearance disrupted the Council of Five Hundred. Lucien eventually left the chamber and appealed to the soldiers outside rather than securing a normal vote.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1799 in France — Page 6
Explore 244 historical events and records for France in 1799.
Historical records for France in 1799
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Lucien elected president of Five Hundred Council of Five Hundred
Lucien Bonaparte became president of the lower legislative chamber shortly before his brother's coup. The office gave him procedural influence at a moment when the Directory's constitutional survival was in doubt.
Merlin de Douai Forced From Directory
Merlin de Douai also gave up his position during the crisis, enabling the legislature to reshape the executive without a general election.
Military Defeats Intensify Parliamentary Criticism
French reverses in Europe emboldened legislators who argued that the executive had failed to manage the war effectively.
Military Emergency Drives Legislative Intervention
The councils treated military defeat as a reason to intervene in executive appointments, revealing the weakness of institutional boundaries created in 1795.
Minister of Finance
Appointed Minister of Finance
Mobilization
Organizes the Army of the Rhine
Negotiations as Bonaparte returns Barras
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.
Negotiations With General Bonaparte
Sieyes reached an understanding with Bonaparte, joining plans for constitutional reconstruction to the authority of a celebrated military commander.
Neo-Jacobin revival in Five Hundred Council of Five Hundred
Military reverses and dissatisfaction with the Directors strengthened more radical republican deputies. The lower chamber became a central arena for calls to replace the executive's leadership.
Political attacks force resignation from ministry
Talleyrand resigned as foreign minister in July as factions struggled for control of the Directory. The departure did not end his involvement in preparations for another political settlement.
Political Retirement After Directory Service
After leaving office La Revelliere Lepeaux ceased directing national policy while opponents continued debating how to rebuild the failing constitutional system.
Prairial confrontation with executive Council of Five Hundred
During the crisis of 30 Prairial, legislators forced changes in the Executive Directory after a succession of military failures. The action revealed that the supposedly separated powers could collide in practice.
Prairial Crisis Undermines Existing Directors
Sieyes benefited from pressure on colleagues identified with the Directorys failing policies and resisted efforts to preserve the existing executive balance.
Prairial pressure changes executive composition Council of Ancients
Legislative critics forced changes to the Directory during the crisis of 30 Prairial. The Ancients and Five Hundred used political leverage over appointments rather than following the ordinary annual rotation alone.
Prairial Sets Stage for Brumaire
Sieyes used the aftermath of the parliamentary crisis to pursue a more radical constitutional change that would culminate in the coup of November.
Presidency During Prairial Crisis
Sieyes emerged as a dominant Director while legislative pressure forced changes in the executive after French military reverses.
Presidential Rotation Concludes in February
La Revelliere Lepeaux ended his third presidential term while retaining his place among the five Directors until the June political crisis.
Provisional Consulate Seat
Following the dissolution of the Directory, Sieyes served as a provisional consul alongside Bonaparte and Roger Ducos while a replacement constitution was prepared.
Provisional consuls replace Directors Council of Ancients
The Brumaire legislation designated Bonaparte, Sieyès and Ducos as provisional consuls. The arrangement displaced the five-member Directory and ended the Ancients' role as a chamber of the republican legislature.
Resignation From Directory During Brumaire
Sieyes left the Directory as the coup unfolded, helping dismantle the five member executive that the conspirators intended to replace.
Resignation Under Prairial Pressure
La Revelliere Lepeaux resigned on 18 June after parliamentary pressure in the crisis of 30 Prairial forced a reorganization of the Directory.
Retirement From Consular Executive
Sieyes withdrew from the final consular leadership after the constitution established Bonaparte as First Consul, ending his direct role in the revolutionary executive.
Rewbell Earlier Departure Alters Balance
Rewbells normal rotation out of office had already changed the Directorys membership, leaving former allies less able to resist parliamentary demands.
Rift with Sieyes during executive crisis Barras
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.
Roger Ducos Joins Reconfigured Directory
Roger Ducos became a Director as the political crisis changed the governments personnel and prepared the way for his later alliance with Sieyes.
Search for Constitutional Replacement
He investigated options for replacing the rigid Constitution of Year III because the councils and Directors repeatedly confronted each other without a stable remedy.
Siege of Acre unsuccessful Bonaparte
Bonaparte besieged Acre but failed to overcome its defenders, who received assistance from British naval forces. The inability to take the port contributed to his withdrawal toward Egypt.
Sieyes Becomes Fellow Director
The election of Sieyes to the executive introduced an influential advocate of constitutional reconstruction who did not share La Revelliere Lepeauxs commitment to preserving the existing leadership.
Sieyes Enters Directory Before Prairial Crisis
Sieyes joined the executive shortly before the parliamentary upheaval, bringing his own plans for constitutional reform into the government.
Sieyes Gains Influence in Reconstituted Government
The changes of Prairial strengthened Sieyes standing as he began considering more fundamental alterations to the Constitution of Year III.
Sieyes moves from legislature to executive politics Council of Five Hundred
Sieyès increasingly sought constitutional change outside routine proceedings and entered the Directory. His shift anticipated the alliance between civilian reformers and Bonaparte that would end the two councils.
Sieyes moves into Directory Council of Ancients
Sieyès joined the Executive Directory during the political crisis of Year VII. His appointment placed a constitutional reformer in a position to challenge the arrangements he had previously helped shape.
Talleyrand helps organize Brumaire alliances
He worked with Sieyès and Bonaparte's supporters during the planning of the coup. His experience and connections helped bridge civilian politicians and military leaders.
Talleyrand helps secure Barras resignation
During 18 Brumaire, Talleyrand participated in efforts to remove Director Barras. The resignation weakened the Directory at the moment the conspirators sought to replace it.
Talleyrand returns to foreign ministry under Consulate
Bonaparte's new government restored Talleyrand to the foreign affairs portfolio in November. His return marked the start of a central role in consular diplomacy after the Revolution's republican decade.
Theophilanthropy Loses Leading Political Patron
With La Revelliere Lepeaux removed from government, the civic religious movement lost its most influential defender inside the executive.
Third rotating Directory presidency Barras
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.
Thirty Prairial Parliamentary Confrontation
On 18 June lawmakers intensified their attack on the Directory, forcing a political restructuring that became known as the coup of 30 Prairial.
Transfer of Councils to Saint Cloud
The Council of Ancients transferred legislative sittings to Saint Cloud under a security pretext, creating the setting for the operation planned by Sieyes and his allies.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.