Napoleon was a military officer.
13 Vendémiaire Year 4 ( 5 October 1795 in the French Republican Calendar ) is the name given to a battle between the French Revolutionary troops and Royalist forces in the streets of Paris . The battle was largely responsible for the rapid advancement of Republican General Napoleon Bonaparte 's career . The coup of 18 Brumaire brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France , and , in the view of most historians , ended the French Revolution . Napoleon . When the Revolution broke out in 1789 , Napoleon was serving as an artillery officer in the French army . The Directory eventually gave him command of the Army of Italy after he suppressed a revolt against the government from royalist insurgents .