the period in French history from Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup d’etat of Nov. 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire, Year VIII) to May 18, 1804, when he was proclaimed emperor. During this period power was nominally vested in three consuls elected for ten years, but in actuality it was held by the first consul, Bonaparte. The original second and third consuls, E. J. Sieyès and R. Ducos, were replaced by J. Cambacérès and C. Lebrun under the Constitution of the Year VIII. In August 1802, Bonaparte and the two other consuls were proclaimed consuls of the French Republic for life.
an agency of a country’s foreign relations, established on the territory of another state (with the latter’s consent) to perform certain functions. The area to which the consul is assigned and the location of the consulate are determined by an agreement between the two countries. The rights, privileges, and immunities of the consulate include the right to use its country’s flag and emblem, inviolability of its premises, exemption from taxes, inviolability of consular archives, and freedom of contact between the consulate and its government, diplomatic representatives, and other consulates of its government wherever they may be, employing communications media, codes, and diplomatic and consular couriers.