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I was doing some personal reading on the French Revolutionary Wars lately, and found the most peculiar chapter in a particular book covering the era of the Directiore-Councilate. While I think we all know about the controversies surrounding President Pichegru and his Chichy Clique prior to the events of 1800 (Though I think we can all agree he more than proved his loyalty at that point; please don't bring up any of the "double agent" revisionism please), I was surprised to learn there was a point right after his election that his rivals actually considered acting on them. Apparently, Napoleon Bonaparte/Bey (prior to he and his army being declared persons non grata after Pichegru's diplomatic about face, of course) had come into possession of letters of dubious reliability documenting a conspiracy by the Council of 500 and Ancients to, once they gained a majority in a future election and secured the executive off, vote to reinstate the monarchy and Constiution of 91'. IOTL, apparently he conspired with Forgein Minister Talleyrand to use them as blackmail to get the Council to authorize his Mediterranian Expedition pet project despite the fact it took away forces from the fronts closer to home. I understand it was his rivalry on that question over forgein adventures vs. close campaigns with General Jourdan: the distinguished commander of France's largest army at the time (The Army of the Rhine) who would no doubt gain influence in any Thermadorian power grab, that lead to him not turning over this evidence over to the directors. But let's say that he either falls in love with another campaign in Italy instead or thought he could leverage his new influence with a Directoire dictatorship to get support for his grand Oriental ambitions. Would a coup attempt by the Thermadorians be able to take control of France successfully?

If so, how would such a government manage France both domestically and in the war effort? What would be the rate of the other Clubs? The Emiges? Would Napoleon still end up in Egypt (presumably staying in French service) or perhaps he'd be obliged to pursue a career closer to home?

If not, what's the most likely reason why? I think it's simply be a matter of the Guard refusing to betray a hero of the nation and legitimently elected legislature on unproven alligations, but even if the Directors can get control of Paris it might not be enough. Could we see a resurgence of the Catholic-Royalists in the West, an army mutiny by Pichegru/Council loyalist generals, or perhaps some kind of rallying of the Jacobins for one last hurrah? Would the Cohalition be able to exploit the chaos, or would they dither too long like last time? And what of Napoleon and Talleyrand? Their political defeat would certainly send shockwaves through the Eastern and Centeral Med. to say the least! Imagine how much worse off the Ottoman military would be without the Post-Napoleon reforms.
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