CHAPTER XIV. From the 18th Brumaire (9th of November, 1799) to the 2nd

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