History glossary
coup
an attempt to seize power outside normal constitutional rules.
- Category
- Political action
- Region
- Global
- Date range
- Varies
What it means
A coup is an attempt by a small group, often from inside the state, to seize power outside normal constitutional rules. The August 1991 coup tried to stop Gorbachev's union treaty and preserve Soviet authority by emergency rule.
Stories using this term
Imperial Japan
From Meiji modernisation to colonial rule, militarism, mobilisation and defeat, Imperial Japan rose as a modern empire before collapsing in 1945.
The Maurya Empire
From Chandragupta's overthrow of the Nandas to Ashoka's edicts and the empire's fall, the Mauryas created the first imperial state to unite much of the Indian subcontinent.
Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire
From Pepin's papal-backed monarchy to Charlemagne's coronation, reforms and legacy, the Carolingian Empire reshaped medieval Europe.
Nazi Germany
From Weimar collapse to WWII, Nazi Germany imposed totalitarian rule, expansion, and genocide.
The American Revolution and Early Republic
From colonial tensions to independence, this traces the birth and early struggles of the United States of America.
The Anglo Boer Conflict
A war between Britain and Boer republics that exposed imperial costs and reshaped South Africa.
The Cold War
Rivalry between East and West shapes global politics - through proxy wars, propaganda, and nuclear tension.
The English Civil War
Civil war between king and Parliament led to regicide, a republic, and lasting constitutional change.
