What caused the Coup of 18 Fructidor in France?
The April 1797 legislative elections returned a royalist majority to France's Corps législatif. This outcome threatened the existence of the First French Republic and its revolutionary gains.
Questions about Coup of 18 Fructidor
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who organized the Coup of 18 Fructidor against the royalists?
Three directors conspired with foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord to annul the election results. Paul Barras, Jean-François Rewbell, and Louis Marie de La Révellière-Lépeaux formed this alliance.
When did the Coup of 18 Fructidor take place in Paris?
At dawn the 4th of September 1797 Paris was declared under martial law. A decree asserted that anyone supporting royalism or the Constitution of 1793 would be shot without trial.
How many people were exiled after the Coup of 18 Fructidor?
Sixty-five individuals were subsequently exiled to Cayenne in French Guiana. This group included Pichegru, Ramel, Barthélemy, and Carnot who made good his escape.
Why did General Napoleon Bonaparte support the Coup of 18 Fructidor?
General Napoleon Bonaparte supplied documentation of Pichegru's activities to these republican leaders. His contribution ensured the success of the coup d'état that annulled election results.