French Directory

The Board of Directors ( French Le Directoire, October 26, 1795 - December 24, 1799 ) was the last government of the French Revolution. State power was responsible for essentially a five-member collegial body, which is also referred to as the Board. This system became the model for the subsequent Direktorialsysteme in other countries.

It replaced as a result of the revolt of the 9th Thermidor II of the Republican Calendar (27 July 1794) and the overthrow Maximilien de Robespierre, the reign of the National Convention.

History

The constitution of the Board ( Constitution of the Year III ) was adopted by the National Convention on 22 August 1795. It came into effect after the referendum on 26 October.

For the first time a parliament with two chambers was introduced:

  • The Council of Five Hundred (French: Le Conseil des Cinq -Cents )
  • The Council of Elders (French Le Conseil des Anciens - 250 members).

Executive power was in the hands of a five-member Board. Its members were the Council of Elders, chosen from a list that was submitted to the Council of Five Hundred.

On October 12, 1795, the first elections began; on October 26, the last session of the Convention was held. On October 31, the first Board of Directors was elected.

In the 1st and 2nd Board nor Count Lazare Carnot had the opinion leadership, after the coup of 18 Fructidor V (4 September 1797), the Board was controlled by a triumvirate (Paul de Barras, La Révellière - Lépeaux, Jean François Reubell ) in which Barras dominated.

The company controlled by Barras Board quickly became synonymous with corruption and deterioration in public finances. The Assignatenwährung subject to high inflation, despite the military successes of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Italian campaign, 1796-1797 and the resulting war revenue.

From the 5th Board of Directors Sieyès was the leading personality and was thus able to Napoleon prepare the way. However, Napoleon himself was not a member of the Board, as it according to the Constitution had to be at least 40 years old for that.

By Napoleon Bonaparte, the Board on 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799) was overthrown. 10th November 1799, Napoleon was elected First Consul, the two Board members Ducos and Sieyes were at first the other two Mitkonsuln a three-man Consulate.

On December 24, 1799, the Consulate constitution came into force. This date is considered the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of the Consulate.

1 Directorate of 9 Brumaire IV

( officiated 568 days from 31 October 1795)

  • Carnot
  • Le Tourneur
  • Barras
  • Reubell
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

2 Board from 1 V Glorious First

( officiated 106 days from May 21, 1797)

  • Carnot
  • François Barthélemy
  • Paul de Barras
  • Reubell
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

3 Board of 18 Fructidor V

( officiated 287 days from September 4, 1797)

  • Nicolas- Louis François de Neufchâteau
  • Merlin de Douai
  • Barras
  • Reubell
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

4 Board of 29 Glorious First VI

( officiated 334 days from June 18, 1798)

  • Treilhard
  • Merlin de Douai
  • Barras
  • Reubell
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

5 Board of 27 Floreal VII

( officiated 31 days from 17 May 1799)

  • Treilhard
  • Merlin de Douai
  • Barras
  • Sieyès
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

6 Board of 29 Glorious First VII

( officiated three days from 17 June 1799)

  • Gohier
  • Merlin de Douai
  • Barras
  • Sieyès
  • La Révellière - Lépeaux

7 Board of 2 Messidor

( officiated 142 days from June 20, 1799)

  • Gohier
  • Moulin
  • Barras
  • Sieyès
  • Ducos
Campaigns of 1796 in the French Revolutionary Wars Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai Jean-Baptiste Treilhard Roger Ducos
290958
de