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Emperor of Central Africa
Empereur de Centrafrique
Imperial
Imperial coat of arms

Bokassa I


Details
Style	His Imperial Majesty
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 $101 million in 2023). 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.

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List of rulers

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign start	Reign end	Duration	Prime Minister	Note
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 on September 21, 1979.
1	Bokassa I (1921–1996)	4 December 1976	21 September 1979 Deposed.	2 years, 291 days	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 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, 153 days	Vacant, since the monarchy was abolished in 1979.	After his father died on November 3, 1996, he became the Head of the House of Bokassa from November 3, 1996.