Social:Emperor of Central Africa

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Short description: Title of monarch of the Central African Empire

Template:Infobox monarchy

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 United States dollar 20 million (equivalent to $84 million in 2019). 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 France 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 rulers

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Reign start Reign end Duration Prime Minister Note
Emperor of Central Africa (1976–1979)
1 Bokassa portrait (cropped).jpg 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 on September 21, 1979.
Maïdou
(1978–1979)
Head of the House of Bokassa (1979–present)
1 Bokassa portrait (cropped).jpg Bokassa I
(1921–1996)
21 September 1979 3 November 1996
Died.
17 years, 43 days Vacant, since the monarchy was abolished in 1979. Deposed on September 21, 1979, he became the Head of the House of Bokassa until his death on November 3, 1996.
2 Bokassa II
(born 1973)
3 November 1996 Present 27 years, 265 days After his father died on November 3, 1996, he became the Head of the House of Bokassa from November 3, 1996.

Gallery

See also

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

References