[1] The coup was engineered by Republican general Claude François de Malet, who had unjustifiably spent time in prison because of his opposition to Napoleon.

[3] While at the sanatorium, Malet met[2] with several agents of the House of Bourbon, who were working to replace the First Empire with a restored monarchy.

[citation needed] Napoleon was absent from France in 1812,[4] commanding his troops in the invasion of Russia, providing Malet with an ideal opportunity to strike.

[citation needed] At La Force, Malet ordered the release of two imprisoned generals, Victor Lahorie and Maximilian-Joseph Guidal.

The general listened to the conspirator, who informed him that he (Hulin) had been relieved of his garrison command and that he was to turn over the seal of the 1st Division, which was located in Paris.

Doucet was suspicious, however, because the letters presented to him that referenced Napoleon's death stated that the Emperor had died on 7 October.

[1] One of Clarke's first actions was to inform Archchancellor Cambacérès of the coup, urging the man to bring Empress Marie-Louise and Napoleon's heir, the infant King of Rome, to Saint-Cloud.

Colonel Jean François Rabbe [fr], commander of the Paris Guard, which too was fooled into supporting the conspirators, was spared execution.

[1] The 10th Cohort was sent to Bremen, and Minister of War Clarke began to investigate[1] all general officers present in Paris on 23 October, suspending from service those who he thought had acted in a way that showed support for Malet.