Which was more important in Napoleon's initial acquisition of political power, his campaigns in Europe or his suppression of royalist revolts?

Napoleon's rise to power was in a large part due to this campaigns in Italy and Egypt. His Italian campaigns made him into a hero, popular with his own soldiers for his fantastic oratory and personal bravery, and this was in no way dimmed when the directory scolded him for organising a treaty with Austria at Campo Formio in 1797 on his own authority. This helped him carve out a reputation as a maverick, and one more committed to the spread of revolution that even the directory. Egypt made him into even more of a hero, and Napoleon used the savants who accompanied the expedition to publicise his enlightenment as well as his deeds of bravery. The romantic image of a new Alexander in Egypt struck a chord at home and increased Napoleon’s support. This brought him to the attention of Siéyes who decided to use his popularity to create a new regime. Consequently, his rise to power was largely thanks to his fame and popularity in civilian and military circles, both of which was largely due to his success and self publicisation Italy and Egypt. Napoleon’s suppression of royalist revolts, particularly at the Vendémiaire in 1795, was less important. It is undeniable that they played a role in his promotion, the 1795 events bringing him to the attention of Barras. His victory at Toulon in 1793 had had a similar effect but this time highlighting his talent to Robespierre. These events resulted in him being promoted to higher positions like commander of Italy in 1796. But these in themselves did not correspond necessarily with the acquisition of political power. Rather, it facilitated his promotion to places where he could distinguish himself. It could be pointed out that Napoleon succeeded in spite of attempts by the directory to control him such as when there was an attempt to replace him in Italy. The decision by Talleyrand to post him to Egypt may even be interpreted as an attempt to get him out of the way. Once outside of France however, Napoleon was able to act more clearly on his own initiative, and his victories were to the benefit not of the directory but his own personal glory. So rather than events like the suppression of royalist revolts, Napoleon’s rise to power should be looked at through his ability to use his posts to increase his prestige in ways that other men may not have done. In his handling of the Italian and Egyptian campaigns lie the true causes of his selection by Sieyes as leader, which catapulted him into the consulate at the Coup de Brumaire in 1799.