Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself.

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was the head of State of the Central African Republic from 1 January 1966 to 4 December 1976. After eleven years as president he dissolved the government and declared the state a monarchy, the Central African Empire. He crowned himself emperor on 4 December 1977. Bokassa was overthrown by the French in 1979. He fled the country and went into exile in France. The Central African Empire was dissolved and replaced with the Central African Republic (CAR). He spent seven years in France writing his memoirs. In 1986, he returned to CAR and was arrested as soon as he touched down on charges of murder, treason, cannibalism and others. He was ultimately found guilty of only treason, was granted amnesty and released from jail in 1993. He died of a heart attack in 1996.

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01Cathcart B., (1996), Obituary: Jean-Bedel Bokassa, from The Independent, 05 November [online], Available at www.independent.co.uk [Accessed: 15 October 2013]
02French H., (1996), Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Self-Crowned Emperor Of the Central African Republic, Dies at 75, from The New York Times, 05 November [online], Available at www.nytimes.com [Accessed: 15 October 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, December 5). Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070594

South African History Online (2011) 'Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself.', South African History Online, 5 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070594 (Accessed: 26 July 2026).

South African History Online, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070594, (accessed 26 July 2026).

"Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself.." South African History Online, 5 Dec. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070594. Accessed 26 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of Central African Empire, crowns himself.." South African History Online. December 5, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070594.