Constitution of the Year VIII The Constitution of the Year VIII
(French: Constitution de l'an VIII) was a national constitution
of France, adopted December 24, 1799 (during the Year VIII of
the French Revolutionary Calendar), which established the form
of government known as the Consulate. The coup of 18 Brumaire
(November 9, 1799) effectively gave all power to Napoleon
Bonaparte, and in the eyes of some, ended the French Revolution.
After the coup, Napoleon and his allies legitimized his position
by creating the "short and obscure Constitution of the Year
VIII" (as Malcolm Crook has called it). The constitution tailor-
made the position of First Consul to give Napoleon most of the
powers of a dictator. It was the first constitution since the
Revolution without a Declaration of Rights. The executive power
was vested in three Consuls, but all actual power was held by
the First Consul, Bonaparte. This was no longer Robespierre's
Republic, which was more radical, or the oligarchic liberal
Republic of the Director