Napoleon proclaimed Emperor of the French by the Senate (18 May 1804) (1804)

On 18 May 1804, the French Senate proclaimed Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of the French, marking the transition from the First Republic to the Empire. This legislative act, formalized by the Constitution of the Year XII, established Napoleon's imperial authority prior to his later coronation. The event reflects the consolidation of power following the Coup of 18 Brumaire and the establishment of the Consulate.

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Background and detail

Background. Following the Coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul. The Constitution of the Year XII, adopted in 1804, transformed the French First Republic into an Empire. This constitutional change provided the legal framework for the Senate to proclaim Napoleon as Emperor, shifting the state's structure from a republic to a hereditary monarchy.

The Proclamation. The proclamation occurred on 18 May 1804, as recorded in historical records. It was a legislative act by the French Senate, not a religious ceremony. The Constitution of the Year XII, also known as the Organic Sénatus-consulte of 28 Floréal, year XII, was the legal basis for this transformation, establishing Napoleon as Emperor of the French.

Political Context. Napoleon's rise to Emperor followed his consolidation of power as First Consul. The event was distinct from the December 1804 coronation at Notre Dame. The proclamation by the Senate was the formal legal recognition of his imperial title, which he held until his first abdication in 1814.

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