In 1799 the abbe Sieyes was a member of the ruling Directory of France. He wanted to overthrow the Directory and establish a more stable authoritarian regime. When a general who was successful in the Italian campaign returned from another campaign in Egypt he decided to enlist his aid…the generals name was Napoleon. The coup started off well but started to run into opposition when it was saved by a speech from the President of the Council of 500. The President named Lucian convinced the soldiers that Napoleon was no threat to liberty and it just so happened that Lucian was Napoleon’s brother.

(The Great Courses – Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon)