coup d'état
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A coup d'état is when military or government leaders use force to illegally overthrow the sitting government and take control of the state. It matters because it represents a sudden, violent disruption of a country's political system and the rule of law, often with serious consequences for citizens and national stability.
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General Napoleon Bonaparte during the Coup of 18 Brumaire in Saint-Cloud, detail of painting by François Bouchot, 1840
A coup d'état (/ˌkuːdeɪˈtɑː/ ; French: [ku deta] ; lit. 'stroke of state'), or simply a coup, is typically an illegal and overt attempt by a military organization or other government elites to unseat an incumbent person or leadership. A self-coup is said to take place when a leader, having come to power through legal means, tries to stay in power through illegal means.