Emperor of Central Africa, Jean-Bedel Bokassa

Dec. 4, 1977 - Bangui, Central African Republic - JEAN-BEDEL BOKASSA, the flamboyant president-for-life and later emperor of the Central African Republic during his coronation. On 31 December 1965 the first President of the Central African Republic Dacko was overthrown by Colonel JEAN-BEDEL BOKASSA, who suspended the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly. President Bokassa declared himself President for life in 1972, and named himself Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire on 4 December 1976. A year later, Emperor Bokassa crowned himself in a lavish and expensive ceremony that was ridiculed by much of the world. In 1979 France carried out a coup against Bokassa and restored Dacko to power

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Bangui Bedel Bokassa Constitution Coup Crowned Dacko Declared Dissolved Expensive Flamboyant Lavish Overthrown Ridiculed Suspended

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY