Paul François Jean Nicolas, vicomte de Barras (1855-1829) was one of the most powerful members of the Directory during the French Revolution. He came to power as a result of the coup of 18 Fructidor, year V (September 4, 1797), a purge of royalists in the Assembly, but after Napoleon’s coup of 18 Brumaire, year VIII (November 9, 1799) he was exiled to Brussels. He eventually returned to France and was allowed to retire to his estate in Chaillot. His Mémoires was published in four volumes in 1895–96.