Report of the Spanish ambassador in Paris José Nicolás de Azara y Perera, 1st Marquis of Nibbiano, where he testifies to the coup d’état of 18 Brumaire (9 November), executed by Napoleon Bonaparte (26.11.1799)

Date: 1799

Archive: National Archive of Catalonia

Document type: Textual

Reference code: ANC1-25-T-87

Link to the online document

Description: On November 26, 1799, José Nicolás de Azara, Spanish ambassador in Paris, wrote a detailed report on the events that took place on Brumaire 18 (November 9), when Napoleon Bonaparte executed a coup that put an end to the Directory and opened the way to the Consulate. This diplomatic document is a direct testimony of the immediate impact that the rise of Napoleon had on European chancelleries. From his privileged position, Azara observes and interprets a key moment in European history, which will mark the step towards a new political and military stage. His report reflects the interconnectedness of European monarchies and governments, and how the events in Paris resonated strongly across the continent. This document tells us about a Europe in turmoil, where Catalonia and Spain were not mere spectators, but actors involved in a diplomatic and political network that defined the future of the continent.

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