Council of Five Hundred
| Council of Five Hundred Conseil des Cinq-Cents | |
|---|---|
| French First Republic | |
|
General Bonaparte surrounded by members of the Council of Five Hundred during the 18 Brumaire coup d'état. | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Established | 2 November 1795 |
| Disbanded | 10 November 1799 |
| Preceded by | National Convention (unicameral) |
| Succeeded by | Corps législatif |
| Seats | 500 |
| Meeting place | |
| Salle du Manège, rue de Rivoli, Paris | |
The Council of Five Hundred (Conseil des Cinq-Cents), or simply the Five Hundred was the lower house of the legislature of France during the period commonly known (from the name of the executive branch during this time) as the Directory (Directoire), from 22 August 1795 until 9 November 1799, roughly the second half of the period generally referred to as the French Revolution.
Besides functioning as a legislative body, the Council of Five Hundred proposed the list out of which the Ancients chose five Directors, who jointly held executive power.
Each member had to be at least 30 and a third of them would be replaced annually.
Napoleon Bonaparte led a group of grenadiers who drove the Council from its chambers and installed himself as leader of France as its First Consul in the coup of 18 Brumaire.
.svg.png){kind=small}
.svg.png){kind=small}