Episode 021 · Out Nov 9, 2026
Napoleon nearly botched his own coup
9–10 November 1799 – "18 Brumaire" in France's revolutionary calendar, the "fog month". Napoleon seizes power, botches his big speech, is mobbed by deputies – and is rescued by his little brother. Three consuls, then a consul for life, then an emperor.
Sources
Every claim in the video was checked against these sources. Where they disagree, the video words it carefully; legends are marked as legends.
In short: Wikipedia "Coup of 18 Brumaire" (EN/FR), "French Republican calendar", "French Directory", "French Consulate", "Lucien Bonaparte". Marked as legend in the video: deputies escaping through the windows; Lucien's sword oath "as the story goes".
- Wikipedia: Coup of 18 Brumaire en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia (FR): Coup d'État du 18 Brumaire fr.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: French Directory en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Napoleon en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: French Republican calendar en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Lucien Bonaparte en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia (FR): Directoire fr.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: French Consulate en.wikipedia.org
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