Everything about First Consul totally explained
First Consul was a title used by
Napoleon Bonaparte following his seizure of power in
France.
Originally, three equal
Consuls made up the government established by Bonaparte and
Sieyès after the coup of
18 Brumaire (
November 9,
1799), which established the
Consulate in
France (
1799–
1804). Napoleon, however, soon arose as the strongest of the three.
History of the term
The term
consul was used like a part of Bonaparte's attempt to liken himself to a Roman ruler of ancient times. He later strengthened his ties with Rome by constructing triumphal arches (such as the
Arc de Triomphe) and monuments in the style of ancient Rome.
The title of consul was in Rome used by the two most powerful magistrates in the government. The consuls ran the Republic (along with the
Senate) and were the highest ranking military figures. Both consuls had equal authority and could
veto each other. This was supposed to combat the onset of a tyranny. However in times of crisis the Senate could appoint one figure as a
dictator.
The French system, installed during the breakdown of the government of the
First French Republic, was similar except that there were three consuls instead of two. Bonaparte, by far the most ambitious and charismatic of the three, rose to become the most prominent. A fixed
referendum later invested him with the title of "First Consul for Life", which was similar to being elevated to the position of dictator in ancient Rome, except that in the Roman system a dictator's term was limited to just six months. Napoleon stayed on for much longer, eventually proclaiming himself as
Emperor of the French.
Other Consuls
The Second Consul was
Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès; the third was
Charles-François Lebrun.
Further Information
Get more info on 'First Consul'.
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