Chapter XIV

FROM THE 18TH BRUMAIRE (9TH OF NOVEMBER, 1799) TO THE 2ND OF DECEMBER, 1804

Hopes entertained by the various parties, after the 18th Brumaire-- Provisional government--Constitution of Sieyès; distorted into the consular constitution of the year VIII.--Formation of the government; pacific designs of Bonaparte--Campaign of Italy; victory of Marengo-- General peace: on the continent, by the treaty of Lunéville with England; by the treaty of Amiens--Fusion of parties; internal prosperity of France --Ambitious system of the First Consul; re-establishes the clergy in the state, by the Concordat of 1802; he creates a military order of knighthood, by means of the Legion of Honour; he completes this order of things by the consulate for life--Resumption of hostilities with England-- Conspiracy of Georges and Pichegru--The war and royalist attempts form a pretext for the erection of the empire--Napoleon Bonaparte appointed hereditary emperor; is crowned by the pope on the 2nd of December, 1804, in the church of Notre Dame--Successive abandonment of the revolution-- Progress of absolute power during the four years of the consulate.

THE EMPIRE