French
Politician
1755-1820
A
corrupt and amoral politician, Paul Barras was a former
army officer who saw his chance to further himself with
the French Revolution.
Becoming
a Deputy, Barras was the political officer at Toulon
- where he first met the young and ambitious Napoleon
Bonaparte.
Assisting
in the fall of Maximilien
Robespierre, Barras joined the
Directory and, when a counter-revolution threatened,
he called upon Bonaparte to use force to end it.
The
legendary "whiff of grapeshot"
followed and, safe in his office, Barras became a key
mentor for Bonaparte, who even married his former mistress
Josephine de Beauharnais.
Despite being a player in the sacking of his fellow Directors,
Barras missed out after the Coup de Brumaire and was replaced
by the Three Consul system that included his protégé Bonaparte.
He
was one of few revolutionary politicians who was able
to retire.
