DDH - The Coup of 18 Brumaire

The Dave Bowman Show

On November 9, 1799—or as the French Revolutionary calendar marked it, 18 Brumaire, Year VIII—Napoleon Bonaparte executed a bold coup that would change the course of French history. In this episode, we dive into the chaotic final days of the French Revolution, where distrust and division plagued the government. With France weary from years of political upheaval, Napoleon returned from his military campaigns as a hero, ready to seize control of a fractured nation. Join us as we recount the high-stakes drama of 18 and 19 Brumaire. We’ll look at the calculated moves Napoleon and his allies made to oust the Directory, the tense confrontations with the Council of Five Hundred, and the role of fear—both real and manufactured—that paved the way for Napoleon’s ascent. Was this the end of the Revolution, or simply its evolution? This episode explores how one moment shifted power, leaving France on the brink of empire and setting the stage for a legacy that would shape history worldwide.