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 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 Bonaparte ( [ nəˈpoʊliən_ˈboʊnəpɑrt ] [ napɔleɔ̃ bɔnapaʁt ] ; 15 August 1769 -- 5 May 1821 ) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars . The Directory eventually gave him command of the Army of Italy after he suppressed a revolt against the government from royalist insurgents . He engineered a coup in November 1799 and became First Consul of the Republic .