What term describes the means by which napoleon came to power?

Usurp; to sieze by force or without legal right. After the French Monarchy fell in 1793 with the beheading of King Louis XVI and his wife, the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror followed. It was quite easy for General Napoleon to seize power. Using his army he staged a coupe d'etat, eccentially overthrowing the legal government who's legitimacy was already in question, declaring himself supreme ruler in 1800 and finally Emperor in 1804 saying "I did not usurp the crown, I picked it up from the gutter". Facebook.com/Joshua.s.bowler