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coup d'état, or simply a coup, is a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government. History has seen numerous coups succeed, but there have also been several noteworthy coup d'état where insurrections have failed and incumbent leaders were spared their fate. So, what are some of the most notorious attempted takeovers, where those seeking to acquire power and control have themselves been taken or killed?
Click through the following gallery and examine the motivation, outcome, and impact of 15 extraordinary coup attempts from recent history.