Coup d’etat, or simply coup (French: “takeover by force” or “coup de grève”), is the overthrow of a lawful government through illegal means. The term may refer to an overthrow of a constitutional monarchy by military forces, or it may refer to a non-violent overthrow of an established republic. In some cases, a government that came to power through constitutional means may attempt to stay in power through illegal means, an action known as a self-coup.
In some cases, a coup d’etat may involve a violent overthrow of an established government; in such cases, the event is often called a bloody coup. A coup d’etat may also be non-violent, and in these cases the event is usually referred to as a soft or bloodless coup. This article contains a chronological list of coups and coup attempts throughout history.
1952 Egypt coup d’etat: Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew King Farouk and formed the Egypt State of National Security.
1957 Libyan coup d’etat: General Muammar Gadaffi overthrew Prime Minister Nuri el-Barghouti.
1958 Bolivian coup d’etat: A military coup led by Hernan Siles Zuazo overthrew President Mamerto Urriolagoitia. He ceded command to Vice President Victor Paz Estenssoro, thereby preventing him from becoming the next president through legal elections.
1961 Lebanese coup attempt: Christian officers failed to overthrow the government of Fouad Chehab.
1962 Venezuelan coup d’etat: Military officers overthrew the government of Carlos Andres Perez, and replaced him with Vice President Juan José Carreras.