Bicorn hat worn by Napoleon, 1799 © Paris - Museé de l'Armee / P SegielteA new regime – the Directory – took power in France in 1795. The internal political situation remained unstable, but there were considerable successes in war: Belgium was annexed, the Dutch Republic surrendered and peace was made with the Prussians and Spanish.

In 1796, the French moved to liberate the parts of northern Italy that had been annexed by the Austrians. The newly married and recently promoted Napoleon was Supreme Commander of the Army on this campaign. He won spectacular victories, and felt confident enough to impose the terms of peace with the Austrians on his own.

Although the British remained a danger, Napoleon preferred to avoid direct confrontation with them. Instead, he decided to threaten British commercial interests in India by disrupting trade routes through Egypt. His troops were accompanied in Egypt by a scientific and cultural expedition. Its findings were later greatly admired back in France. Despite initial successes, the French were left stranded by Nelson's destruction of their fleet in Aboukir Bay. Napoleon abandoned his army and escaped from Egypt in August 1799.

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