Today in History: May 18; Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned ‘Emperor of the French’ #history #france

Today in History: May 18.

The title of "Emperor of the French" was bestowed upon Napoleon Bonaparte by the Conservative Senate, on May 18, 1804.

Napoleon established himself as a dominant figure in France during the years of the Revolution, with a series of political and military victories, resulting in him becoming immensely popular and influential.

He believed that being crowned would aid him in gaining prestige in international royalist circles, which would allow him to lay a foundation for a future dynasty.

On April 28, Jean-François Curée proposed that Bonaparte be proclaimed ‘Emperor of the French’, however Lazare Carnot opposed Curée’s motion, fearing potential despotism, if they were to surrender the rule of the empire to the control of one man.

On May 18, a sénautus-consultum was approved unanimously, proclaiming Napoleon, ‘Emperor of the French’.

His actual coronation wouldn’t take place until later that year, on December second,1804.