Emperor of Central Africa | |
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Empereur de Centrafrique | |
Imperial | |
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Details | |
Style | His Imperial Majesty |
First monarch | Bokassa I |
Last monarch | Bokassa I |
Formation | 4 December 1976 |
Abolition | 21 September 1979 |
Residence | Renaissance Palace, Bangui |
Emperor of Central Africa (French: Empereur de Centrafrique) was the title used by Jean-Bédel Bokassa from 4 December 1976, who was crowned on 4 December 1977 in a lavish ceremony that was estimated to cost the Central African Empire US$20 million (equivalent to $89 million in 2021). 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 with the Central African Republic 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.
List of Officeholders
Colours
List of Emperor and Head of the House
No. | Image | Name (Birth-Death) |
Start reign | End reign | Time in reign | Prime Minister | Note |
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Emperor of Central Africa (1976-1979) | |||||||
1 | ![]() |
Bokassa I (1921-1996) |
4 December 1976 | 21 September 1979 Deposed. |
2 years, 291 days | Patassé (1976-1978) |
He is the first emperor of central Africa from December 4 1976 and deposed in September 21 1979. |
Maïdou (1978-1979) | |||||||
Head of the House of Bokassa (1979-Present) | |||||||
1 | ![]() |
Bokassa I (1921-1996) |
21 September 1979 | 3 November 1996 Died. |
17 years, 43 days | Vacant since the Monarchy of Central Africa was abolished in 1979. | Deposed in September 21 1979 he became the Head of the House of Bokassa until his death in November 3 1996. |
2 | Bokassa II (born 1973) |
3 November 1996 | Present | 25 years, 278 days | After his father died in November 3 1996 he became the Head of the House of Bokassa from November 3 1996. |
Gallery
See also
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.