Emperor of Central Africa

Imperial Crown of Bokassa I

The Emperor of Central Africa (French: Empereur de Centrafrique) was the monarch of the Central African Empire from 1976 to 1979. President Jean-Bédel Bokassa proclaimed himself Emperor Bokassa I on 4 December 1976, and was crowned on 4 December 1977 in a lavish coronation ceremony that was estimated to cost his country US$20 million ($80 million today). Although nominally a constitutional monarch, in practice Bokassa ruled with absolute power. For all intents and purposes, the country was still a military dictatorship, as had been the case since Bokassa took power in the 1966 coup d'état.

Bokassa I attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect. The coronation consumed one third of the nation's annual budget and all of the French aid that year, but despite generous invitations, no foreign leaders attended the event. Many thought Bokassa was insane, and compared his egotistical extravagance with his contemporary – Africa's other well-known eccentric dictator, President of Uganda Idi Amin.

Full titles

Bokassa I

His Imperial Majesty Bokassa the First, Emperor of Central Africa by the Will of the Central African People, United within the National Political Party, the MESAN

Emperor of Central Africa (1976–1979)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Bokassa I	(1921-02-22)22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996(1996-11-03) (aged 75)	4 December 1976	21 September 1979 (deposed)		Bokassa

Pretenders to the throne of Central Africa (1979–present)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Bokassa I	(1921-02-22)22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996(1996-11-03) (aged 75)	21 September 1979	3 November 1996		Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa II	(1973-11-02) 2 November 1973	3 November 1996	Incumbent	Son of Bokassa I	Bokassa

Imperial Standard

• 
  Imperial Standard of Bokassa I.

See also

• Central African Empire
• History of the Central African Republic
• List of heads of state of the Central African Republic

References

• Lentz, Harris M. (1994), Heads of States and Governments: A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Over 2,300 Leaders, 1945 through 1992, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, ISBN 0-89950-926-6, OCLC 30075961 .