Coup of Fructidor Year V

The Coup of 18 Fructidor, occurring on September 4, 1797, was a purge of conservatives from the Corps Législatif and other positions during France's Directory period. Fearing a loss of public support, the Directory enlisted Napoleon Bonaparte to send troops. General Pierre-François-Charles Augereau commanded these forces, removing over 130 royalists and counterrevolutionaries. Many were deported, weakening royalist influence but also undermining the republican constitution. This event significantly increased the army's power, paving the way for Napoleon's eventual military rule. The Directory's actions, including this coup and subsequent purges, demonstrated an erosion of political liberty and a struggle to maintain power amidst internal opposition.12