Consulate

   The Consulate (Consulat) was the government of France that derived from Napoléon Bonaparte's coup d'état of 18 Brumaire Year VIII (November 9, 1799) and replaced the directory (see napoléon i). It lasted from November 10, 1799, to May 18, 1804. The Constitution of the Year VIII outlined the organization of the government and named the three consuls: Bonaparte, jean-jacques cam-bacérès, and charles lebrun. In fact, Bonaparte, as First Consul, held all the power. During this period, Bonaparte decided to exploit the coup d'état to achieve his ambitions and, while pursuing a brilliant foreign policy, reorganized France, along semi-dictatorial lines. The Civil Code was promulgated in 1804, and the legion of honor created in 1802. Slavery was reestablished in the colonies (1802), strikes were forbidden (1803), and the livret, or identity book, was required to be carried by all workers. On August 4, 1802, the First Consul was named Consul for Life, the constitution was then revised strengthening his powers at the expense of the legislative. A new state of peace abroad favored the development of trade and industry. The suppression of the opposition was matched by some measures at appeasement, especially toward the old émigrés. The general policies of the Consulate opened the way for the first empire.