Boulangerism
George Boulanger was a Republican General. In 1886 he became Minster of War mostly because he was one of the few loyal to a Republic. He cleaned out the Officer class by removing the fanatic Monarchists and changed the Army (at least a little) from a professional army to a citizen’s army. He did it so well that Frenchmen began to talk of regaining Alsace-Lorraine from the hated Prussians. He quickly became the most popular man in France.
Boulanger however, was not a very bright man. Republicans began to become suspicious of a Bonapartist scenario. Boulanger also began to become pals with Monarchist who called him, "General Revanche." He loved all this. So much that Bismarck began to complain that this vain man was threatening peace. In 1887, Boulanger Mobilized the whole French Army because the Germans had arrested a French customs officer at the border. Fortunately, the French Chamber would not approve of mobilization and Boulanger was looking like a kook. Boulanger then attacked the Chamber for not going along and wanted a change of the Constitution which used a strong Chief Executive.
Finally, the Chamber unloaded Boulanger. He ran for office in the chamber, illegally, and had to be retired from the army by the chamber in order to take his place. However, a scandal involving the selling of government decorations erupted which discredited the Republic again and helped Boulanger to think he was one popular fellow. In July of 1888 he formally asked the Chamber to vote itself out of existence which immediately drew parallels between Bonaparte and Boulanger. The Chamber refused, but Boulanger was now even more popular.
In January of 1889, the Republicans warned that if Boulanger was reelected, it would mean the overthrow of the Republic. Boulanger was easily reelected and the coup d’etat was on. Huge crowds formed to storm the Chamber. The Republicans were making plans to clear out. Boulanger met with his allies and they decided that night was the time to overthrow the government. Boulanger knew it was time. So, did he meet with his pals to finish the job? Did he notify his wife of his moment of triumph? No, he went to his mistress’s home
After his "visit," Boulanger went back to find his buddies. They told him it was too late. Wasting a few hours allowed his celebrating allies in the streets to party too much and, then, well, go home.
Boulanger fled to Belgium rather than be arrested. The Chamber let him escape. A fool in exile is better than a martyr in jail. Two years later, in Brussels, Boulanger’s mistress died in his arms. Two months after her death Boulanger went to her grave, and then put a bullet in his brain. The modern Napoleon was dead.
Though it was somewhat comical how this had all ended, France had shown a major weakness in that even a fool was capable of overthrowing the Republic. The anti-Republican forces in France were very strong—even among Republicans. All was not well with the Third Republic. As Christmas of 1894 would show.