Final answer:
Napoleon overthrew the Directory in a coup d'état in 1799, which led to the establishment of the Consulate, setting the stage for his eventual rise to emperor.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1799, Napoleon overthrew the government body known as The Directory. This five-man executive council had been established in the aftermath of the Reign of Terror, following the fall of Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety. The Directory failed to provide the stability or governance needed by the state, creating an opportunity for Napoleon. Upon his return from Egypt, Napoleon was part of a conspiracy and staged a coup d'état on November 9, 1799, with the backing of the military, which dismantled The Directory. In its place, a new constitution was written, establishing the three-member Consulate, with Napoleon as a leading figure who would soon assume control as First Consul and, eventually, as Emperor of France.